Chapter 14-The Reporters Return
The rest of that night had come and gone…painfully slowly. It was like one of those times where you find yourself waiting eagerly for something, but what you want never seems to come. It eventually did come however, at around eleven o' clock, where everyone found themselves getting tired. Daisy had gone back to the hotel, while Mario and Luigi headed for their house; they really didn't feel like staying at Peach's castle, even if there would be the risk of someone sneaking in at night. Not only that, though, but Peach demanded they not stay with her, so it worked out nicely for everyone.
The night had been quite eventful, though, despite the fact that everyone was bored out of their minds. Why was that so, however? Wouldn't a murder get everyone nervous and jumpy? That's what had happened during the last murder…how odd…
One distinctive thought was sticking out in Mario's mind, however, as he crawled into bed. It was an…interesting thought…a thought that he couldn't get out of his mind as he lay in his bed…It left him awake, wondering what this new information meant. It was really quite intriguing…
About an hour after Detective Goom's body had been found:
"May I please speak with you, Mario? In private?"
"Is something bothering you, Toadbert?"
"Just…just please follow me…"
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"Umm…yes? What is it?"
"Mario…I…I…well, there's something I want to tell you…"
"Sure, tell me anything…"
"Well…before, when Toadiko had called Detective Goom, I noticed she was using the phone in Peach's bedroom…well, I thought nothing of it, even though it did cross my mind as to why she had been using that phone. But anyway, as I was walking by the room, I saw and well, heard Toadiko talking to Detective Goom on the phone…but she was using a disguised voice…"
"That…that's…odd…"
"I wasn't going to tell anyone about it, but I think that Toadiko is hiding something…"
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Mario was staring at the ceiling of his bedroom. As tired as he was, he just couldn't fall asleep…let alone even try, for that matter. That same thought about him and Toadbert's private meeting would not leave his mind. Even when he tried to think about something else, the thought would just manage to make its way back. It was relentless! Maybe Mario felt as though this was a big clue to the case? Or maybe he was debating whether or not he should tell his friends? Toadbert had wanted him, and only him to know about that incident, so maybe it would just be best if he didn't reveal it to anyone? Yes, he concluded, it would. Well, at least for the time being…
Mario yawned, rolling over onto his side. Slowly, the thought began to fade away, as though it were a dream, and left Mario to peacefully fall asleep…
Princess Peach was just awaking from the sound of curtains opening. She opened her eyes, only to be blinded by the bright light of the early morning.
"Well, hello, princess…did you sleep well?" Toadsworth, apparently, had been the one behind the whole 'opening of the curtains', and Peach was not grateful of it. If it were up to her, she might just want to strangle him right then and there. Like Mario, she had a tough time falling asleep, and waking up a little before six did not please her…at all…
"Ugh…how can you wake up this early?"
"Well, princess…" Toadsworth started, grinning at her. He knew he wasn't pleasing her, which he actually found quite amusing, "I was actually up at five…"
Peach rolled her eyes at him, getting out of bed and walking into her extravagant bathroom. Well, she was awake now, so she might as well just stay up…
"I'll prepare breakfast for you…"
"Please…do so…" Peach said angrily, almost in a demanding tone. Well, Toadsworth could have at least done something useful, rather than stand around and brag about how early he woke up. How can an old guy such as himself get up so early, anyway?! Geez, even young, and not-so-ancient Peach found it to be too early to wake up…
It was about seven-thirty, and Peach was in the middle of eating her breakfast. Considering that Toadsworth had completely screwed up the meal the first time (what else can go wrong?!), Peach was force to wait almost an hour so Toadsworth could make it yet again.
At least the food was good, though. So maybe Toadsworth wasn't completely useless…
"Princess?" Toadetta asked, entering the dining room, hoping to speak with Peach. The not-so-happy princess almost didn't want to hear what she had to say…, "The reporters are back…"
"Well tell them to leave!" Peach ordered in an angry tone. Could this day really get any worse? It was unbelievable! And not in a good way…those reporters, especially that darn Goomba girl, were really starting to get on her nerves. They had really picked the wrong day to come knocking at her door…
"I did…" Toadetta pleaded, "But they just won't leave!"
Peach took a deep breathe and nodded. If that stupid Goomba girl was there, Peach might consider punching her in the face if she tries to embarrass her once again. Gee, Peach's rage and fury right then could match that of an erupting volcano…
The princess stood up and navigated her way through the castle to the front door. She paused for a moment to take another deep breathe…too bad she had lost that meditation video…
Peach looked outside to see the reporters talking amongst themselves. She just wanted to…scream…she wasn't entirely sure why, but maybe she felt that letting out her anger would actually be helpful in the end? And maybe it would scare off the reporters, too…
"Princess Peach!" More than a dozen reporters called to her, and she tried to put on at least a somewhat legitimate smile. She was bracing herself for a huge wave of questions that would probably drive her insane…
"Do you know how that old Goomba died?" A random reporter asked. Peach glanced down at him from her top step. How did these reporters know that she was in cahoots with Detective Goom? It almost scared her to think that the reporters knew so much about what was going on in the society. Sure they had called the police immediately after finding the body, but she never expected the reporters to get this information so quickly…
"Well…uhh…" Peach stuttered, not really sure what to say. She might as well just tell them the truth…, "No, we really don't have any explanation for the cause of death…
"Princess Peach?! Who do you think the murder of this crime is?"
"Well…uhh…" Peach had seemed so nervous and uncomfortable now. What had happened to the super-angry Peach that had plans of punching the reporters in the face? Gee, apparently that idea wasn't going to turn out as nicely as she ha hoped…, "We suspect that it's the same person from the previous crime…"
"Princess Peach…" A voice from behind the reporters came. The way this person – well, female, as it had sounded – had said her name…it almost seemed like she was using a casual or maybe even mocking tone. Who was this woman?! What kind of snob would speak to a princess like that?!
"Oh…no…" Peach murmured to herself as she watched the Goomba girl approach her. This hideous creature was back?! This wasn't going to turn out well…
"You know, you sure are a magnet for attention…"
"Wh-what?" What in the world was that supposed to mean?! This darn girl sure did have a lot of bad thoughts about to the princess to ridicule her in such a manner…and she was just getting started. Gee, for all Peach knew, this stubborn snob had spent the whole last night practicing on how she could tear Peach apart again…
"I mean, think about it: Every time a murder happens around here, you seem to be everyone comes rushing to! Why? Well, it's quite obvious that you seek attention…wow, I guess that you don't have very many friends. Gee, if you're so pitiful that you need so much attention, you're friends must have left you because they think you're crazy! I mean, have you considered seeking some type of mental help for your problem?"
Peach was in awe (as were the other reporters). This had to be the rudest girl she had ever met in her entire life. In Peach's opinion, this girl was the one that sought all of the attention! And Peach wanted to tell her that, too…but she couldn't bring herself to do it…she just couldn't.
"You know, you're so crazy that I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one killing all of the people…just for attention!"
Peach gasped. Did this girl truly think that the princess was the killer?! Or was she just exaggerating? Had she just been saying that to get on Peach's nerves even more? The princess was still in much shock, and a whirlwind of thoughts were spinning around in her head.
Before anyone could say anything, Hamma was noticed, walking through the gates the led up to Peach's castle. It was quite a fortunate time for him to arrive (at least for Peach it was), considering that he might be able to help Peach get out of the dreadful situation she was in…
"Hi princess!" He said rather excitedly, pushing past the reports as though they weren't even there. Gee, if only Peach could learn how to think of them as no big deal…then she could finally take on this Goomba girl once and for all…
Peach didn't respond to Hamma, but was even still in shock. She could just not get the thoughts that the Goomba girl had said out of her mind. They were so painful to think about, too…
"Umm…princess? Are you alright?" Hamma asked, nudging her. He began to grow curious as to why she was acting the way she did. She merely shook her head quickly as she dashed back into the castle to cry, leaving Hamma, and even the reporters, speechless…