Yay! A new chapter! I've had this chapter planned out for quite a long time now, but it came out even better than I expected!
In addition, I will need to start thinking now, for I've had plans for the fan fiction all the way up to now, meaning I have no idea what the upcoming chapters will be about.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 18-A Much More Friendly Atmosphere
Fire trucks filled with determined firemen had arrived shortly after Mario had ever-so-nicely saved Daisy. The two of them, still recovering from the horrid events, were talking to a friendly fireman.
"And you have no idea what started the fire?" The fireman puzzled as both Mario and Daisy shook their head. It was quite a mystery…
The three stood back and watched as the fire was just about entirely put out. At least Detective Goom wasn't alive to see his house burn down…, "Was this your house?"
"No…" Mario answered, glancing at the house, and then back at the fireman who looked completely baffled, "It-it was a friend's…"
"Ah…" He replied, watching another fireman approach him. The two murmured something of importance to each other, and then split apart, "If you'll excuse me…"
The duo used this opportunity to slip away from the fireman, and from the house, entirely. It wasn't that they didn't want to continue to stay and chat, but both of them got that feeling that it would just waste time and lacked any significance…
"Hey…Mario?" Daisy looked over at Mario, who, surprisingly, looked back. For once he seemed to be interested in what Daisy was saying…had saving her life truly opened up a secret friendship that was always between them? Hopefully…, "Thanks for saving me…"
"Don't mention it," Mario said modestly. By the way he said it, one might suspect that they had been friends for years! He even smiled at her when she thanked him! "But…may I ask, why were you standing mindlessly in front of a growing flame?"
Daisy smiled and laughed at Mario's jokey mood. Who could have thought that those two would be in such high spirits right after a fire? And to think that Mario was actually talking to her like that! "I'm not really sure…for a minute there, I thought I was a goner…"
"Yeah…" Mario answered, smiling and looking at her, "Me too…"
"Turn right, Luigi! Right!" Hamma squealed as Luigi turned on the 'left' blinker, "Why in the world are you driving anyway!"
"You told me to!" Luigi whined, "You said 'I'll drive too recklessly, so you should drive'!"
"Huh?" Hamma asked, "I don't think so…"
Peach glanced back at him and nodded. Wow, he must have really been worried about the safety of Mario and Peach, considering that he had forgotten something he said two minutes ago…
Hamma was mainly aggravated at Luigi at the moment; like his brother, Luigi was insane when it came to driving. For one, he was actually going the speed limit! Didn't he even care about his brother?! Geez, Hamma just met these people and he was the most worried one there!
"Luigi! Speed limits are meant to be broken…that's why they call them speed limits!"
"What?! That doesn't make any sense at all!"
"Don't you wonder what Luigi and them are doing right now?" Daisy asked to Mario, who nodded at her and began to think, "They're probably wondering why we're not back with the file yet…"
"Yeah…" Mario laughed, "I wouldn't be surprised if they thought we were in some kind of danger!" Both Mario and Daisy laughed. Again, their sudden friendship was really quite amazing. Maybe the life-threatening fire was really worth it? Maybe it would bring out the better in the both of them?
"I know!" Daisy exclaimed, "They're always so worried! They really just need to learn how to chill! Like…take a chill-pill or something!" Again, they exchanged laughs. They sure were having fun gossiping about their friends like that…
"You know what I just realized?"
"What?" Daisy asked, still smiling.
"We're not even heading in the direction of Hamma's house…were going back to the castle!"
Daisy nodded and smiled again. Mario did the same as they exchanged some more jokes and chit-chat. Did they truly not care that they might leave their friends worried about them? And for once, Mario wasn't even interested in the case! This new friendly revelation made him feel better and less stressed out, too.
"Go! Go! Go! Run the red light! You can make it! C'mon! Don't' stop! What are you doing?! You could have sneaked by if you weren't driving so slow!" Hamma was on a roll with quick comments that were beginning to drive Luigi a little bit crazy. Didn't this Hammer Bro have any sense of security, whatsoever?
Peach sighed, and Hamma did the same. Luigi glared at them both, mumbling, "Don't worry, this wont take long…"
Hamma rolled his eyes, preparing to push Luigi out of the car and completely run the red light. In his opinion (and Peach's, too), it would be worth it.
"I don't think that they really care if we meet them there…" Mario established. He wasn't entirely sure whether or not what he had said was very accurate, but he didn't really care. At the moment, he just really wanted to be with Daisy and catch up on what they had missed about each other over the past few years.
"Nah…" Daisy agreed, blowing her friends off as though they were pieces of trash, "It's not like their going crazy to find us or anything…"
"This is crazy!" Hamma yelled into Luigi's ear, who jumped with surprise and dismay. It wasn't exactly pleasant to hear someone scream angrily into your ear like that…not pleasant at all…
"Hey!" Luigi fired back, turning the corner ever-so-slowly, "It is wise to obey all driving rules and signs! Especially speed limits!"
Now it was Peach's turn to become angry with the plumber. She had tolerated Luigi's slow driving long enough, but now she was anything but pleased with him. Poor Luigi…he definitely wasn't prepared for what would happen next…
While Luigi was too busy keeping his eyes on the road, Peach began to raise her hand, and…
Slap!
The princess slapped Luigi with all of the might in her surprising strong arms. Peach had always said that she had no power in her arms when she was content, but when annoyed, she could send even the toughest flying!
The car swerved drastically, and Luigi's heart skipped a beat. He drove back on the right side of the side and breathlessly said, "What was that for?! You could have gotten us killed!"
Peach immediately gave him her death glare. He turned guilty away from the evil look she gave him and began to pick up a little speed. He could tell that she was in no mood for any of his 'we need to stay safe' comments.
Silence filled the car as Luigi continued to drive even faster. Gee, he was now peaking at thirty-five miles per hour…that must have a record. Still though, any additional speed was better than the way he was driving before…
Still, no one spoke. Hamma was grinning widely. Never had he expected Peach to slap Luigi. Geez, for that matter, he probably hadn't of yet gotten as angry as to slap Luigi…and he sure was angry!
Luigi made one final turn and drove towards Detective Goom's house. All of their mouths dropped open as they saw a group of firemen ensuring that the fire had been put out.
"F-fire?!" Peach exclaimed, clinging on to Luigi's arm in a state of shock. He glanced at her awkwardly, and then at the smoke that was still dissolving from the scorching flames. Had there truly been a fire at Detective Goom's house? It was…unbelievable…
At that very moment, though, only one thing was going through all of their minds: Had Mario and Daisy survived, or did the flames burn them to a crisp and end their lives with much surprise?