Chapter Six

They eventually managed to corner and catch the koopaling, but not without both of them getting covered in mud as well. Anna held the koopaling firmly. Perhaps too firmly, peach thought, because the koopaling was yelling and growling at her.

"Owwwww! Let me go! Owwww! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" He tried to bite her, but she twisted her grip to keep her arms well out of reach of his mouth.

"Silence!" Anna finally snapped angrily, tired of the koopaling's protests. The koopaling sent silent, it's eyes wide. "You are taking a bath whether you like it or not." She said firmly.

"Uh-uh." The koopaling protested.

"Yes." She hauled the koopaling over to the washtub someone had thoughtfully prepared for them. It was full of warm, soapy water. She unceremoniously dumped the koopaling into the tub, where he began to splutter and howl. "Stop that." Anna said. "It isn't hurting you.

The koopaling blinked in surprise, realizing Anna was right. He then began playing with the bubbles. Anna scrubbed the koopaling thoroughly, battling the thick mud. Finally, the little koopaling was clean, but both Anna and Peach, who had lent a hand here and there, were soaked. In fact, the koopaling seemed to think he was playing a game where the goal was to get them as wet as possible.

"There." Said Anna, drying the koopaling off. "Now, off to bed with you."

"I'm hungry." Said the koopaling. "I want some cookies."

"Please." Said Anna sternly.

"I want some cookies, please?" The koopaling asked. "It doesn't sound right."

"That's because it should be, 'May I have some cookies, please." Anna explained.

"Oh." The koopaling said. "May I have some cookies please?"

Yes, you may." Said Peach. "Come on, we'll go get some."

They went to the kitchen while Anna cleaned up the bath mess. Tayce T. was delighted to give them some warm cookies and a glass of milk each. They munched their cookies in silence.

When the koopaling had finished, Peach reminded him it was time for bed. "May I have a story, please?" He asked, giving her a big smile.

"A bedtime story?" Peach asked.

"Yeah." The koopaling said.

"I don't see why not."

"Okay."

They passed Anna on the way up to the koopaling's bedroom. "I need to speak with you." Anna hissed.

"As soon as I get him to bed." Peach said. Anna nodded tensely. "And get cleaned up."

"Right." Said Anna.

Peach took the koopaling up to bed and tucked him in. Then she read him a story. He began to drop off to sleep as she finished the last page.

"And they all lived happily ever after. The End." She said softly. She closed the book and started to get up.

And all at once the koopaling was wide awake again and talking a mile a minute. "That was a neat story-I really liked it- Did you like it?-I thought it was great-Especially that one part-Will you read me another one, please?" He was bouncing up and down on the bed as he talked.

Peach laughed. "Only if you promise to settle down and go to sleep when it's done."

He looked thoughtful. "Okay."

So she read him another story. And another. And one more after that. Then, finally, he fell asleep, and stayed that way.

Peach slipped out of the room, exhausted. Then she went up to her rooms to take a bath and put on some clean clothes.

The warm bubble bath relaxed Peach and calmed her mind. It also made her even sleepier than she had been before. She got up and put on her bedclothes. Then she went into her bedroom and threw herself upon her bed.

She was fast asleep before she knew it.