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Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Mario or its franchise; it belongs to Nintendo and their affiliates. I just am really grateful to its creators for giving me such a wonderful game and media series to write about!

I also don't own anything related to Harry Potter, all that belongs to J.K. Rowling, but thanks go to her as well because, using her wonderful work, I can expand this story to make it more interesting :)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I figured I'd watch Daisy sleep since I couldn't get any myself. Today had been real eventful and I was worn out, but I couldn't rest. By the looks of it, Daisy wasn't having much more luck than I. The girl wore a troubled expression in slumber and kept turning from side to side every few seconds. I wanted to wake her, but I was told you really shouldn't do that because it would startle them more or something. I couldn't remember at the time.

Daisy had a moment of peace. Her features cleared and her body stilled. She lay facing me with her fingers clutching the front of my shirt. I stared down at her in the dark room and tried not to move an inch or breathe too hard. When I was sure she'd really fallen back into a deep sleep, I dared touch her. I ran my palm over the top of her head and brushed her hair away from her face, revealing smooth but flushed skin. Over her cheek I slid my thumb, feeling how warm it was, and then craned my neck so that I could kiss her there. I caught the corner of her rosy mouth in that kiss and tilted my head so that I could push against it fully. It was only a peck. I could feel her breath come out in long, soft exhalations. In time with her breaths her chest rose and fell and watching the motion became entrancing. I moved my hand over the side of her chest and traced the contour of her body. Down her hip, around her backside, and along her smooth leg I went, stopping at the back of her knee. I wrapped my arm around her back then and held her close to me. No, I couldn't sleep, but this wasn't so bad.

"...Don't..."

She'd spoken, but her eyes were still closed. She was sleep talking. Daisy gripped my shirt even more tightly and her faced pinched tightly in a frown. I watched her mouth move over words I couldn't quite distinguish, but I did hear, 'stop', and 'get off'. I knew she was having a nightmare.

Very gently I shook her shoulder and whispered her name. She jerked violently and then whipped her arm out in front of her and slapping the side of my face.

"Daisy, calm down." I coaxed, "Daisy."

She was flailing now, so I took her by the forearms and pinned her body down, the shook her one good time, calling out her name firmly for good measure. Her eyes shot open. I met them and let my grip on her arms slack, then started massaging her there. She relaxed underneath me and for a moment we just caught our breath and stared at her each other.

"You were having a nightmare," I told her.

Her smile was slow, wry. "No kidding."

"Wanna' talk about it?" I asked.

"Not really." Daisy stated softly.

"You haven't had one in a while," I noted, sitting back on my heels.

Daisy sat up, too, and crossed her legs. She leaned back against the headboard, then let her own head loll backwards with a yawn.

"I know," She spoke tiredly. "I just got reminded of...of him when Junior started talking about him."

"Oh." I spoke. I sighed and said, "You know he's just a little kid, this must be confusing to him; he just doesn't understand the nature of death. He knows his father is gone, but he doesn't understand it's permanent."

"What if it's not?"

The question came out as a timid manifestation of her inner-most fears. She gazed at me as a child would, looking vulnerable and exposed. Her mind was just coming to life after her nightmare and her inhibitions were lowered greatly.

"Daisy," I told her, "He's dead."

"But what if he's not?" Daisy asked, "What if he's-"

"Daisy," I cut in, "He's gone. We both saw it; Ludwig killed him."

"Right." Daisy said tonelessly, then with a nod repeated, "Right. He's dead. I saw it. I know it."

She then gave me an apologetic sigh and said, "I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. It's just...I had that dream and it's late."

"I understand." I told her. "You want to stay up?"

"No, I'm okay." She told me, "I just need to get some more rest."

"Are you sure?" I had to ensure.

She nodded and unfolded her legs, then reclined and pulled the covers over her. I came behind her and pulled her right up under me. She put her hands around my arm that was around her waist and we both had what felt like one whole hour of uninterrupted sleep.

Knock knock knock

"Mm."

Knock knock knock knock knock

"Who is that?"

I turned to Daisy in the bed but before I could even open my eyes fully, let alone speculate on an answer to her question, there was more rapping at the door. This time, the person was unrelenting. There was no end to the stream of mild banging on the wood and it did well to spur me to toss back the covers and get up. Daisy was up and moving, too. She and I shared a look on our way to the door. I was the one to open it, looking to the left and the right but seeing no one.

"Down here," Came the gruff voice.

It was a Toad who'd spoken, a small but stolid-looking tan-skinned being with a scroll in his hands. I blinked and yawned. It was early, to early to entertain anyone. I let Daisy take it from there. She stepped in front of me and crouched to the Toad's height.

"Good morning," She greeted in her sleepy voice. "Is there something you needed?"

She added a sweet smile that had the Toad coloring a bit in the cheeks. I smiled and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Uh, yes, my Lady, you and Master Luigi are needed right away at the palace by order of Prince Mario and Princess Peach."

"Okay, cool." Daisy replied easily, "Just give us a minute to get dressed and we'll be right there."

"Of course," The Toad nodded, bowing and backing out of the room.

I watched Daisy stand and shut the door and then sigh deeply with her eyes shut. I came to her and she smiled, then wrapped her arms round my neck.

"Wonder what my brother wants." I mused.

"Only one way to find out," Daisy said into my shirt.

We tore apart and while she went to the bathroom to brush her teeth, I set about making the bed and getting some clothes out of my suitcase. I just got some pants and a t-shirt, seeing as how I didn't have a clue what Mario had planned. Daisy and I swapped places then and when I was washing my face, I realized something.

The wedding is only two days away, I remembered, and I am the best man. I guess Mario has a dress rehearsal scheduled or something.

"Ready?" Daisy asked me once I stepped out of the bathroom.

"Yeah," I said, glancing over her outfit. "You look cute."

Daisy blushed, smiled, and did a twirl. Cute wasn't really the word I'd use to describe the white romper, not with the way is drew attention to her long legs or the way the collar was cut to show just the barest swell of the top of her chest. It was sexy but not too much so. Or maybe I was just blinded; she could have been wearing a paper sack and I'd still call it sexy.

"You don't look so bad, either," She told me.

Daisy slid her hand in mine and we walked out the door. The Toad was waiting for us, and he led us from the inn to the palace. Though it was only morning, there were tons of people gathered in front of the grand white castle. There were so many, in addition to the members of the royal guard, that it was hard to find the long white steps that led to the palace's entrance. With the Toad guiding us, we elbowed and 'excuse me'd past all the eager people.

"That was the princess' court," Daisy whispered near my ear.

I glanced back but couldn't hardly spare a last look because, as soon as we were inside, there were more Toads rushing us. The entire palace was in chaos, it seemed. The staff members were rushing to and fro with cleaning supplies and dishes and armfuls of fabric and pots of flowers; Daisy and I got separated almost instantly.

"There you are, baby brother!"

In a flash my brother was beside me, power-walking down some corridor while Daisy was being carted off in the opposite direction. I couldn't hear her over the noise but she said something to me with an expression that was both slightly confused and highly amused. While some females disappeared around the corner with her, I faced my brother..

"Where are they taking her?"

"Don't worry, she's in good hands." Mario told me absently. "They're taking her to Peach."

"Why are we running?" I had to ask.

"Well, there's a lot to be done." Mario explained, then shot me a wide smile, "I mean, you know me; I always was last minute."

I shrugged because that was definitely true. Mario continued to walk beside me while at least three or four Toads pulled me along by their grip on my belt loops or pockets. It was hard not to trip over them.

"Did you sleep alright?" Mario solicited.

"Yeah, I guess-"

"Good, good." Mario interjected, "We gotta' get you fitted, gotta' get your measurements and go over your speech."

"Speech?" I parroted.

"You don't have one?"

I let my blank stare serve as an answer to that.

Mario shook his head, "Forget about it. You're my brother, I don't need a speech, just you coming is enough."

We reached our destination; I found that out when I was practically shoved into some small room that had been turned into a mini tailor shop. There were pins all over the floor, like everywhere, and fabric and clothes all over the bed and tables and hanging on the wall in front of the window.

"The seamstress will be here in a little bit." Mario said, "I gotta' run, got some loose ends I need to tie up."

There was one last exchange my brother said to me before he slammed the door.

"Oh, yeah," He paused in the doorway, "you're not still afraid of heights, are you?"

"What?"

"Good."

"If you can forgive the delay, I have something for you."

"There wasn't much of a delay." Daisy spoke after the other royal's announcement.

She'd been sitting in the room for a grand total of eight seconds before the princess arrived, having been led there with more ceremony than her boyfriend. Daisy indulged in a private smile at Luigi's expense, remembering his flustered look after they'd been swept apart. She likened the chaos of the palace this morning to the same tizzy her own household had been thrown into when she turned sixteen and was of legal marrying age, which apparently warranted the whole kingdom celebrating in honor of the event. She welcomed the hustle and bustle and sat on the bed of the unnamed guest room with quiet content. That is, until Peach arrived. Now she stood and bowed to the other royal.

Peach had a hanger in her hand, the garment that clung to it being hidden under a while silk sheet. Daisy gazed curiously at the thing and the ladies who'd escorted her bowed their way out of the room. Even they were excited to see what lay under the sheet and stuck around in a huddled trio at the door, waiting for Daisy to take the hanger. Princess Peach handed over the item and clasped her hands at her waist, wearing the same color as her dark-haired companion.

"It's beautiful," Daisy breathed once the sheet was off.

The girls in the doorway gave themselves away with their collective gasp, and Princess Peach gently sent them on their way. She closed the door after them and took a seat on the bed. While Daisy stood examining the garment, Peach's blue eyes grew misty.

"No more beautiful than you." Peach said softly, "Besides, it had to be; you are my maid of honor."

"Maid of honor?" Daisy spoke in question, holding the dress up to her body.

In the vanity mirror she could see that it would fit her perfectly, but that went unnoticed by the dark-haired girl. She was stuck on the princess' words. She was also a royal, yes, but she wasn't a relative to either Peach or Mario.

Well, not yet, she thought with a fleeting clever smile.

"With all due respect," Daisy said slowly, turning to face the blonde. "Why did you choose me?"

Peach stood and straightened her dress, speaking as she walked over to Daisy.

"It was the only logical choice," She claimed, "Seeing as how you showed an incredible amount of bravery and honor when you risked your own life for mine."

Daisy's expression sobered. She knew exactly what the other royal was referring to, and now understood why she'd sent the three girls away. This was a delicate subject for the both of them. Peach had reached Daisy now, and she put her hand on the younger woman's arm.

"I can't imagine what you went through to save me," Peach stated, her voice heavy with emotion. "And I'm so, so grateful."

"I didn't do it by myself." Daisy said softly, "Luigi, Ludwig; they helped, too."

Peach gave her a solemn, knowing look and said, "Yes, but they weren't in the same kind of danger you were."

Daisy was silent. She didn't like going down memory lane where the Dark King was concerned. Peach could see her discomfort and blinked away tears, then composed herself.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you." Peach stated, "I just want you to know that I will always be indebted to you, as a friend, a sister in arms if need be, and if you should ever require anything, you need only ask."

"Thank you." Daisy said, her voice very low.

"No, thank you." Peach insisted.

She didn't protest when Peach pulled her into a very tight hug. As she nested her chin on the older royal's shoulder, she reflected on her time in captivity.

I suppose it was a lot to take on, she mused. I just never thought about it as a heroic effort, just something that needed to be done. The Da...he needed to be stopped, and I had an opportunity to bring about his end. Nothing heroic, really.

The tailor creeped me out. I didn't know if it was her intense, silver eyes or her sharp, thin ruby mouth but her long stares and unwarranted comments just screamed cougar. Yeah, she was up there in age, I could see by the thinness in her face and the wrinkles. But still, for an older woman she looked remarkable. Her hair was still mostly chestnut colored and thick and healthy as she wore it down in a mix of braids and straight strands, though there were some gray locks here and there. Her face still held an ounce of youth, or maybe it was the faint hunger behind her eyes that gave the illusion of youth. True to her trade, she was dressed fashionably in a black dress, one with a starched uniformity about it and a flowing skirt. She hardly spoke, and did so to instruct me or the Toads that worked with her.

"Arms up," She stated.

I lifted my arms and wobbled a bit on the wooden stool I had to stand on. The woman was tall, taller than me, so when I faltered she was behind me with her hand on my back to steady me.

"Careful," She seemed to purr at me.

Her hand drifted from my lower back to the absolute lowest it could go without touching my behind and I felt an overwhelming sense of empathy for all girls everywhere that had to put up with people fondling them in any way, be it at the club or bar or whatever. This was just creepy.

"Of all the bodies I've seen in my profession," The tailor spoke in an even voice, "yours is by far one of the best."

Um...thanks?

I was pretty sure I was turning red, more from discomfort than embarrassment. She was measuring my waist but the way she wrapped her tape around me was a bit too much like an embrace for my liking. It was now that my brother chose to return. I actually sighed a little, hoping that his presence meant he'd offer me some kind of out or alleviate some of my unease.

"Careful, Yzmina, my little brother's taken." Mario quipped.

The tailor, Yzmina, let her measuring tape coil in on itself with a snap. She stepped away from me but kept her eyes on me the whole time.

"Lucky girl," She remarked, her mouth turning upwards in the corner.

I shivered inside.

To Mario I said, "The wedding's the day after tomorrow. How are these clothes gonna' be ready so soon?"

Yzmina said, "I'm no ordinary tailor, young man. I have...many talents. Preparing your robes would be an honor and will take me no time at all."

"Yeah, she's not the best tailor in the kingdom just in name." Mario added.

He thanked her and Yzmina left, but not before giving me one last once-over and a wink. I shuddered on the outside this time and glared mildly at my brother when he guffawed.

"So she's got a thing for you," Mario chuckled, "I gotta' remember that. Maybe she'll give me a discount in the near future."

"That's not funny," I frowned.

Mario smiled, but his expression turned serious. He approached me as I was stepping down from the stool. As the Toads were filing out, he cleared his throat.

"Luigi, I really do appreciate this." He told me. "Coming here and supporting me really means a lot."

"Well I couldn't just not come to my brother's wedding." I argued wryly.

Mario stared at me with a weird look on his face. He didn't laugh like I thought he would. He looked like he was feeling guilty or sad or regretful.

"You're good, Luigi." He said at last. "Don't ever change, alright?"

I didn't say anything in response but that was alright for Mario. He just hugged me and clapped me on the back heartily.

"Well isn't this sweet?"

I glanced to the door where Peach and Daisy now stood. They both wore smiles, but only Peach's was genuine. Daisy looked like she had a lot on her mind, like she was distracted. I went over to her and before I could ask her if she wanted to talk, she kissed me and said 'later' against my mouth.

"Come on, you two love birds," Mario grinned, taking hold of Peach. "I have to show you the best part!"

A/N: So I'm back once more. I tried to make this longer. I had to map out the story yet again; I had to figure out an ending and nothing would satisfy me, and I couldn't post a new chapter bc I didn't know how the events would affect the ending and yadda, yadda, yadda. It's done now, so I'll try posting more regularly.

I hope you enjoyed this installment, and we'll pick back up next time! Until then...

~DymondGold~