Authors Note: Well, here we are. This is probably it. The moment we've all been dreading… yet at the same time, anticipating. You know of what I speak. If not, then one word: LEMON. That's right. If all goes according to plan, the TravisxPeach lemon will take place here. Then again… it may be pushed back a chapter… Who knows? It depends on how I feel! ^-^ Anyhow, enjoy the latest installment of my story!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Mario Bros. But I do claim ownership to Travis and the plot to this story.

There Mario lay. Motionless.

He was in a bed in the hospital wing of Peach's Castle. He was, of course, receiving the best medical care available. However, he was badly injured by the accident, and he was slipping in and out of consciousness.

Doc T. finally came to talk with Toad, Daisy, and Luigi. However, the news he brought wasn't good.

"I'm afraid we've done all we can do. The rest is up to the Lord, my friends. I am sorry." Doc said as he exited.

Luigi hung his head low. He always knew that this day would come.

"What do we do now?" Toad asked in a mild panic. "Without Mario, we don't stand a chance! No offense, Luigi." Toad added.

"It's ok, Toad. I know I may not be as strong or courageous as my brother, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to defeat Bowser." Luigi said as he wiped a tear from his face.

"Well, let's look at the facts." Daisy said in a serious tone. "Mario's incapacitated, Peach is kidnapped, Travis is also hurt and missing, and Bowser is the cause of it all. If you ask me, the first thing we should do is at least attempt to rally some of Peach's guards. They be of at least some help."

"That's a great idea Daisy! I'll go see who I can find to come with us." Toad said as he ran out the door.

"Daisy, what should we do?" Luigi asked as he looked at her.

"Well, Luigi, there isn't much we can do until we get word from Toad." Daisy said as she came over and sat next to him.

"And what about Travis?" Luigi asked.

Daisy merely shook here head. "His fate is in God's hands, Luigi. The best that we can do for Travis is pray." She said as she kissed him lightly.

Bowser finally reached his Fortress after what seemed like an eternity of driving. As he pulled into his keep, his Koopa Troopa's lifted the drawbridge. He stopped the car, got out, then went to the trunk. He opened it up to find that Peach had fallen asleep. She was curled in a ball, and had mascara running down her cheeks. She had obviously been crying. He merely laughed as he threw her over his shoulder and walked to the dungeon. When he finally reached it, he threw her in a cell and locked the door. Then, although cliché, he swallowed the key.

Peach had woken up by now. She was awakened by the impact of her body against the cold floor of the cell. Bowser laughed as she looked upon him with horror. She knew that, without Mario, there was no chance of her being saved. But… where was Travis?

"Peach, you have no idea how long I've waited for this moment. Mario is out of the way, and you are helpless. The Mushroom Kingdom, as of today, is finally mine!" Bowser let go a gut wrenching laugh.

Peach knew he was right. But she also knew that as long as she had a breath in her, she would fight.

"Bowser, you may have won for now, but sooner or later, someone will come! Have you forgotten that I have armed guards?" Peach said in defiance.

Bowser merely laughed again as he replied. "Guards? You mean those wimpy little toads? They're no match for my Koopa Troop!"

Bowser turned away to leave before Peach bombarded him with one last question.

"And what about Travis? Surely he is strong enough to throw you down!" Peach yelled at the top of her lungs.

Bowser looked over his shoulder at her.

"Travis? Travis is dead."

Peach fell silent as what he said registered in her mind. Dead. The word tore at her heartstrings. To think that Travis could be dead was almost enough to kill her. She could do nothing more than sink to the floor and weep.

And with that, Bowser walked away.

There Travis lay. Completely and utterly lifeless. But he was not alone. For something else was lurking in those woods.

An eerie stillness came over the area as a hooded figure came towards Travis' body. The figure inspected Travis for quite awhile before he spoke.

"It seems the white and blue clad one has finally come. But he seems to have met a foul end. We must care for him. So that he may go in the Red One's stead." The figure said as she knelt down beside Travis. She reached into her pocket and pulled out two items: a Life Shroom, and a Super Shroom. Each of these items had become increasingly rare over the past years, causing the Mushroom Kingdom to modernize. Luckily for Travis, however, this was no ordinary person watching over him. She took the Life Shroom and put it into Travis' mouth. She left the Super Shroom at his side.

"I leave it up to you now, Travis. Take care, and God Bless."

This is the song playing: "Waltz Across Texas" by Ernest Tubb.

"Do you like music, Travis?" Peach asked as she sat beside him on a park bench while they listened to Travis's portable radio.

"Why of course, Peach. You know that." Travis replied as he smiled.

Peach giggled a little as she continued to talk with him.

"Well, what about opera?" She asked.

"Oh yes. I do very much like opera. It's some of the best music there is, darlin'." Travis said as he closed his eyes. It was a positively lovely day. And he loved nothing more than to bask in the warm sunlight. And the fact that he was with his favourite girl made it that much better.

"Would you mind if we listened to some?" Peach asked as she cuddled up to him.

"Why of course, Darlin'." Travis said as he turned the dial and changed the stations. To his surprise, one of his favourite pieces was playing.

The song is Puccini's "O Mio Babbino Caro" (my favourite version is sung by Charlotte Church).

They listened to the wonderful music as they held each other close. If there was one thing they shared, it was their love for good music. They loved to snuggle as they listened to the lovely voices and the magnificent instrumentals.

"Travis?" Peach said as she looked up at him.

"Yes Darlin'?" He replied as he met her gaze.

"I love you."

Travis began to stir. He felt a lot of pain as he went to sit up, but in the end ignored it. When he finally got into a sitting position, he wiped his eyes and tried to gather his surroundings.

"Ouch… My goodness… what on Earth did I do last night?" He said as he rubbed his head. He looked around once more, and realized that he had no idea where he was. He thought as hard as he could to see if he could remember what all had happened. He could recall racing not long ago…

"Oh my, that's right! Bowser tried to kill Mario! But… How'd I get here? The only other thing I can remember is Bowser knockin' my lights out."

Travis realized that there was almost no chance of finding his way back to Peach's Castle. Besides, it made much more sense to try and find Bowser. The Bible may say turn the other cheek, but there was no way he could let Bowser get away with endangering all of his friends.

"Well… I guess the only thing I can do now is try to find my way to Bowser's Keep. I've no doubt in my mind that he took Peach as well."

As Travis went to get up, he saw something on the ground.

"Well now… What's this? A Super Shroom? What're the odds! This'll definitely be useful!"

Travis ate the Super Shroom. And all at once, he was surrounded by a light. His dirty clothes were replaced by a brand new set (A three-piece khaki suit with brown leather belt, brown cowboy boots, a crucifix, a blue bowtie a white shirt and a khaki fedora with a brown hatband). On top of that, all of his wounds, both superficial and otherwise, were healed. He looked, and felt, like a million bucks. Now he was ready to set out on his journey to Bowser's Keep. Luckily for him, he found a set of tire tracks.

"Bowser, you're definitely an easy one to track, my friend." Travis said as he chuckled and started on his way.

Luigi walked into the beautiful cathedral adjacent to the Castle. He marveled at the wonderful stained glass windows and looked intently at the images they portrayed. It was indeed a lovely place. He had been in here before, but ever since Travis came, it seemed as if everyone was spending much more time there.

He genuflected as he went to sit in one of the pews. It was fairly near to the front. He sat there for quite a while, contemplating all of the things that had been happening. He thought about Travis' arrival, the incident between Travis and Peach, Mario's accident, and Peach and Travis' kidnapping. He wished he could understand why all of these things were happening, but he knew that there was just no explanation for any of it.

Luigi looked up towards the Crucifix that hung above the altar in the church. He looked upon it as he knelt down and began to pray.

"Dear Jesus… Let everything turn out ok. And, as Travis always said, let Thy will be done, O Lord."

Luigi finished his prayer with the Sign of the Cross and sat back down. He continued to gaze upon the Crucifix until he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He turned around to see a puffy eyed Daisy standing behind him. He scooted over so that she could sit down. When she did, her tears started again. Luigi took his love into his arms and softly kissed her cheek.

"It'll be ok, Daisy. You'll see. The Lord will see us through." Luigi said as he gently rocked her.

Daisy sniffled as she nodded. "I know, Luigi. I know."

Authors Note: Well, no lemon… yet. But it should happen in the next chapter… or not. Who knows? It all depends on how well it flows. This chapter kinda bothers me. I didn't really like the way it turned out. It's just really hard to keep the story flowing, you know? Well, just keep reading, reviewing, and voicing your opinions and ideas. Take care, and God Bless!

THE PREACHERMAN.