Timpani, Blumiere, and Daisy all jumped into the warp pipe with their presents for Peach.
The girls had laughed at discovering that they had the same idea of getting Peach something sweet for her birthday. Daisy had found some chocolate she knew Peach loved but had a hard time finding. A shipment had just come to the Flower Kingdom a few days earlier, so Daisy bought some, seeing the opportunity.
They, of course, emerged in the Mario Brother's garage.
"I never knew they played tennis…" Timpani commented as Blumiere helped her down.
"Sort of," Daisy informed as she too was aided by Blumiere. (Not that she needed it, but it was his upbringing to be polite, especially to one who had aided them greatly.) "It was another plot, and the only way to regain the Power Stars was to win a tennis tournament. I don't know if there's a fancier name for that, but that's what it was. I got to help 'em out with that one!"
Daisy made it known that she didn't really help the brothers. Not that she didn't want to, but the events usually go so quickly they can't even spare the time for a phone call to ask her, so she's usually unaware of the events in the neighboring kingdom until after they happened. Luigi was always sure to tell her all the details she missed, however. There were some events that had a bit of prep time before hand, but those were usually weird and whacky people who used sports or made them play a board game to fight them.
Daisy didn't bat an eye telling them those plots. The couple was thoroughly confused at that point, but weirder things had happened, they had decided, so they moved on.
By this point, Daisy had knocked on the door and they were waiting on the porch for the brothers.
They weren't waiting long, however. Luigi opened the door, basket in hand.
"Mario got up late. He'll be out soon," the taller brother informed, stepping out onto the porch with them. "It's a nice day, isn't it?"
"Peach sure is lucky to be born right after the cold spell!" Timpani exclaimed.
Everyone agreed with that statement. At this point, Mario walked out the door, adjusting his cap.
"Sorry about that. Shall we?"
"Of course!"
They began to walk towards the castle. The house wasn't too far, and Peach's party didn't start for a bit, so they avoided taking the pipes.
"What did you decide to give Peach?" Blumiere asked as they journeyed.
"We made a pie," Luigi said. "It's sort of funny, actually; she bakes cakes as large as rooms, but pies just escape her."
"It's a large coincidence that we all got her food," Blumiere noted.
Mario looked at him straight in the eyes. "What else do you get for a girl who can get anything she wants?"
Blumiere shrugged. "Something homemade, I would guess."
"Thus, pie." Mario nodded.
And so they continued on towards the castle. The Toad guards opened the door for the group cheerfully, saying "Hope you have a good time!" as they entered.
"Thank you!" Timpani shouted as they walked in. When she paid attention to surroundings, she gasped. This place was huge!
"Peach's Castle has been handed to ruler to ruler for several generations more than the Flower Kingdoms. As such, it's larger," Blumiere recalled. Daisy nodded in agreement.
"My great-great-great-so-an-so grandparents were actually citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom! But they liked the cold that came from the cold spell, so they moved there. But they stayed good friends with Peach's, an' so, here we stand!"
"The room is right up these stairs. Bowser and the kids should be here already," Mario informed, opening the door for everyone else. "You know the way, Bro?"
"Yep! Just follow us." Luigi took Daisy's hand and lead her up the stairs. Blumiere did the same for his wife, and Mario brought up the end, closing the door silently behind him.
"You'd think she'd get lonely in this big old castle," Timpani commented.
"Hah! She's hardly ever in it, and when she is, my girl's up to her eyeballs in paperwork!" Daisy laughed.
There was a door at the landing. Luigi opened it, revealing Bowser and the Koopalings already sitting around.
"Hello! Hey! Hi! Hey look, more people! Huzzah! Now this is a party! Yippee!" Were the shouts of the children that welcomed them. All of them had meet the kids before and played with them. The kids really loved the differences between the group's games as well. The Mario Bros. were, of course, classic, but now that Timpani was human, she revealed a certain talent for robotics, allowing her to fight as well instead of just remembering what Merlon had told her about the different enemies in the Mushroom Kingdom, preparing her to get the hero from there. Plus, jumping on enemies isn't just limited to just the two capped brothers!
The whole group started chatting. Blumiere's discomfort with the children faded after a few minutes and he joined his wife in playing with them, giving them rides around the room on his shoulders.
Peach walked in unannounced and giggled at the sight.
Mario noticed and signaled everyone, who simultaneously yelled "Happy Birthday, Princess Peach!"
"Aw, thank you all!" Peach exclaimed. The she joined in the conversation. Daisy declared it was gift time, saying "If I have to wait one more minute to give ya your gift, there's not gonna be a gift no more!" And thrust the bag into the Princess's lap. Peach laughed, used to such displays from her friend, before removing the tissue paper.
"Oh wow! Thank you, Daisy. You know I have a hard time finding it," Peach smiled. She hugged her friend.
"Aw, don't worry about it sugar! A shipment came in just a few days ago, how could I say no?"
Next were the brothers. They gave Peach the basket and retook their seats.
"Whoa… did you two make this… just for my birthday?"
Luigi inclined his head. "It was an honor, Princess."
Everyone but Daisy looked confused. Peach looked to the brothers for permission. Mario nodded.
"The recipe they use was their late mother's… they hardly ever make it."
"Oh." No one was quite sure what to say, but Blumiere didn't think this was an appropriate setting for the attitude that had gathered.
"What flavor?" was the first thing that popped into mind… and therefore, out of his mouth. Timpani gave him a look, but the brothers looked relieved, and Peach smiled as she answered.
"Cherry!" she exclaimed, surprising the couple.
"I would've thought peach," Timpani muttered.
Everyone laughed, but Timpani felt as if she was being laughed with instead of at.
"Funny thing… I actually don't like peaches that much," Peach giggled.
"Or apples for that matter. One time my girl drank some apple tea from my kingdom, and oh doggie! She nearly spat it halfway cross the table! The maids found it rather amusing, so they didn't mind cleaning it up or getting her a glass of good old iced tea!" Daisy recalled. It was hard to understand through the laughing fit she was having.
Timpani giggled at the image of Peach having a spit take, and even Blumiere had to admit he chuckled.
The Koopalings were next. Each one presented a card made for her with different materials- some used crayons, another used paint, Wendy used a lot of glitter, and some used colored pencil or marker.
"Thank you so much!"
Bowser was next. He gave Peach a pouch she could attach to her waist without squishing her dress down.
"Sometimes you're going to need something other than your parasol. And now you won't have to worry about your dress."
Peach attached it to her waist. "Thank you, Bowser!"
Timpani and Blumiere presented their present last.
"Oh? What are these?" Peach inquired.
"Salted caramels! They're a delicacy in my home realm. Go ahead, try one." Timpani gestured towards the box.
"Don't let it be said that I am afraid to try new things." Peach took a piece and put it in her mouth.
"Wow!" Came the muffled word. "This is amazing!"
Peach continued chewing. And chewing. Her face contorted slightly.
"Oh… perhaps I should've warned you… the caramels take awhile to chew… they're a bit like gum, in that regard, but you can swallow these."
Peach did just that. "I wasn't expecting that! But these are really good. Who taught you to make them?" Peach passed the tin to Daisy and nodded. The other princess withdrew a single piece and passed the pan onto the next person. This continued as Timpani spoke.
"My parents did… they loved making candy and would always do it for whatever occasion popped up. Caramels were always made for birthdays."
"They taught you very well. Thank you," Peach said sincerely.
Peach sliced the pie and divided one of the chocolate bars for everyone to have a piece.
"It's a tradition of my own," she explained to Timpani and Blumiere. "I don't have enough to share with the Toads, but it's too much for me on my own, so everyone gets a bit of what was brought if its food. The Toads will get a slice of cake I bake later on."
That started a conversation about personal traditions. Eventually, a question was directed at Blumiere.
"What did you do for your birthdays?" Peach asked politely.
"Ehrm… nothing?" Bluimere rubbed the back of his neck, somehow not dislodging his top hat.
Whatever might've been said next was lost, as there was a loud CRAAACK from underneath them.
A visage of purple, then they were gone, leaving only the food on the table.
A/N: Dun dun duuuun! Hey look! Plot! It's very exciting, considering most of my recent works have been one shots…. Or at least, were meant to be. I tried, okay?
Disclaimer: I don't own the Nintendo franchise.
(Current Length: about 6.25 pages and 2,521 words in MS Word.)