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Quick Author's Note:

One reader asked if we were leaving the Darklands soon. Well, spoiler alert: we're won't be leaving the Darklands until a certain man in red comes over to rescue a certain princess in pink.

So in about three more chapters we'll be leaving the Darkland.

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Enjoy The Chapter :)

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the story idea and any OCs.

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Chapter 34:
A New Rival

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Wendy woke up to the sound of knocking on her door. She rolled over from her pillow and stretches, yawning as she did so. Another knock on her door drew her attention and the voice that came from behind it caused her to sit up partly.

"Mistress Wendy, are you there?" called Kammy. "Dinner is ready, dear. Everyone is waiting for you and Kasanova."

Wendy curse and quickly got out of bed, waking up her sleeping mate as she did so. "I'm here, Kammy." She replies back "Kasanova and I will be there shortly."

"Alright, I'll inform everyone else."

"Thank you Kammy,"

"Is dinner ready yet?" said a drowsy voice.

Wendy turned back to Luigi sitting up from her bed, rubbing the sleep dust from his eyes.

"Yup and we're late," She took his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Come on, everybody else is waiting for us."

~XXX~

When Luigi and Wendy entered the dining room, they saw everyone else had already started. They apologize for their tardiness and took their seats at the table. Now that everyone was there, family conversation could begin.

"So," started Ludwig "What were you two doing before Kammy came in?"

Wendy raised a brow. "We were sleeping; it's been a long day."

"Really?" Ludwig smirked. "How do we know you weren't doing other things?"

Wendy glared at him. "And what exactly are the other things you're talking about Ludwig?"

"Oh you know," he said casually. "The things that involve you and him... alone... on a bed... in the dark,"

Wendy rolled eyes. "First of all, Ludwig, that won't happen until a large diamond ring is place neatly on my finger,"

"It better," Roy, Kalvin, and Bowser mumbled all at the same time.

"And second of all," Wendy continued "if we were doing that, then you won't have seen us all day, now would ya?"

Roy and Kalvin dropped their forks on their plate, as Bowser Junior and the rest of the Koopalings just laugh. Bowser groaned in annoyance while Luigi just blushed heavily.

"That's enough you two," said Kamek. "We don't talk about that at the table, especially in front of the minors."

Morton snorted "No affect, Kamek but I think we all know what they're talking about."

"Yup," Larry agreed. "Bow chicka wow wow..."

The whole room burst into laughter as the Koopalings just laugh their tails off. Even Wendy and Junior started crackling up at the phase. The only one who wasn't laughing was Roy who just grunts and cross his arms. Bowser groaned loudly and covered his face with his hand. Luigi bow his head down on the table; too embarrass to let anyone see his face. Kamek, Kammy, and Kalvin just sat there, not finding the humor in the situation. Suddenly, Kammy shot up from her seat and addressed the matter.

"Larry Koopa! I will not sit here and listen to you use such filthy language in front of us and company." She walked over to the young koopa and grabbed him by the shell. "We are going to the bathroom right now and wash that dirty mouth of yours with soap."

Larry protest loudly as the purple Magikoopa drags him away from the table. While he was being lead away, Bowser let his hand fall and let out a sigh, mumbling to himself about his kids. Luigi still kept his head down, not deeming it safe yet to look. He was still too embarrassed to let anyone see him right now. Unbeknownst to him, a certain black koopa was throwing silent glares in his direction, daring to touch the princess in such a matter.

The rest of dinner went pretty well. Once everyone has eaten, they were dismissed from the table. Luigi and Wendy were walking heading back to Wendy's home when Kamek stopped them.

"Kasanova, the king wishes to speak with you,"

Luigi blinked. "Okay, about what?" he asked.

"That's for him to discuss on," Kamek replies. "Now please, follow me."

Luigi turn to Wendy with a worried look. The pink koopa smile and assure him he was going to be fine, although she didn't sound too sure herself. Luigi let out a nervous sigh and began following the magikoopa. Kamek lead him to the throne room where King Bowser lay seated on his throne. Bowser sat in his royal chair with his head resting on the fist of his hand. Upon hearing the door opening, he let his hand fall down to his lap.

"You wanted to see me, your Majesty?" Luigi said, a bit of a quiver in his voice.

"Yeah, I did." He stood up from his seat of authority and walked down the small flight of stairs to stand in front of the smaller koopa.

"I heard you and Roy really hit it out in the gym today." He smirked. "I'm impressive; it's not every day that Roy finds himself sparring partner."

"Well, I do try my best sire."

"Right; this got me thinking on how you can win my approval."

Luigi straighten up as soon as he heard those words. An opportunity to prove himself worth of Wendy's affections has presented itself to him and he wasn't going to let it fly pass him.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked, a bit too hasty.

Bowser smirk on that; knowing full well the koopa in front of him will do anything to deem himself worthy of his daughter. "What I want...is to finally conquer the Mushroom Kingdom."

"What?" Luigi jumped back, shock and surprise written all over his face. "I mean, are you asking me to help you with your plans?"

Bowser nodded. "In a way, yes,"

Luigi looked troubled. He didn't like the idea of working for the opposite side. He didn't want to betray the Mushroom Kingdom or his brother for that matter. But he couldn't just give up now, not when he came this far.

"Hey, I'm not going to send you off to face the plumber if that's what you're worry about." Bowser said, noticing his worried look.

"You're not?" Luigi said, almost sighing in relief.

"Of course not," Bowser puffed and cross his arms. "You're still a rookie, after all. And like all rookies you need to go through training." He crossed his arms. "Although, I am allowing you to participate...that is, if you can; just make sure to stay out of my way and you'll be fine."

Luigi nodded in understanding. Bowser was allowing him to take part in his plan. It wasn't much, but it was a start. Although he would never, ever aid him conquer the Mushroom Kingdom, he could help – both sides – in his own unique way.

"Don't worry, your highness, you can count on me to keep an eye on things while you take care of that pipe rat, Mario."

"Excellent," Bowser grinned; already please with his new 'minion'. "Now about what happen at dinner today..."

Luigi grew tense as he recalls the rather embarrassing conversation they had with everyone else. "What about it, sir?"

The Koopa King narrowed his eyes on him which made him tenser. "I don't remember assigning a room to you last night...where exactly did you sleep?"

Luigi gulped. He was going to lie but the look on Bowser's face told him he would have smelled it a mile away. So, to make things a little easier on him, he went with the truth.

"W-With Wendy, sir," he said.

"That's what I thought." He mumbled. "Do you plan on doing anything else besides just sleeping?"

"N-No, sir; at least, not without your approval, your Highness."

"You sure?" Bowser presses on as a test to reveal the green koopa's interest. "She is a beautiful Koopa, after all, and a princess for that matter; it'll be a once in a life-time thing."

"You're right she is a beautiful koopa but she's also your most precious jewel. Her innocence should be preserved to the man she is meant to be with."

Bowser snort. "A noble statement coming from you; I guess you don't have interest in just mating with her."

Luigi smiled. "I promise you, Lord Bowser; your daughter will be as pure as the driven snow until the day you escort her down the aisle."

"Now, that's what I want to hear." The Koopa King turned and waved him off. "Alright, we're done here; go and pleasure my daughter"

Luigi blinked and blush slightly. Bowser grunt and turn his head, rethinking his choice of words.

"You know what I mean,"

Luigi bowed to him and headed outside the door. Once he was in the hall, he let out a sigh of relief. Bowser was warming up to him, he could tell. Although there's still a lot he has to do before he could get his approval. He wasn't too keen at the thought of working with him but he'll do this best to ensure the princess remain unharmed.

With that thought in mind, he started down the hall to Wendy's room. As he walked, he spots a certain black koopa came coming in his direction. Considering what happened at dinner yesterday night and the talk he had with Wendy this morning, Luigi didn't want anything to do with Kalvin or his stuck-up attitude.

He kept his gaze straight forward and tries to walk by him. However, as soon as he passed him, he was suddenly grabbed and pressed against the wall. At first, he was surprise. But he quickly recovered from his shock and glared at the koopa holding him down.

"Can I help you?"

Kalvin scoffed. "You can help me, commoner, by breaking up with the princess immediately."

Luigi hisses and pushes him off. "And why would I do that?"

"Because, peasant, you and I both know you have no right to be with her."

"That's not what Wendy thinks."

"The princess...is simply confused. She doesn't know what she wants."

Luigi scowled, "Oh, and you do?"

"Of course I do. She's a princess and therefore she wants to be courted by a man that could match with her statues. I am the only one qualified for that."

"You're wrong, Kalvin; Wendy maybe a princess but like everyone else she wants someone to love her for who she is, not her title. Something only I can give her."

Kalvin scowled and narrowed his eyes. "You're starting to get real annoying, koopa."

Luigi matched his glare with one of his own. "For once, I agree with you."

Tension between the two was high in the hallway; it was so thick you can cut it with a talon. Before a fight could even begin to break out, a voice intervenes.

"What's goin' on here?"

Both Luigi and Kalvin turn their heads to the side. Roy stood before them with raised eyebrow and his hands on his waist. Kalvin shot Luigi a quick glance before straighten himself up and regaining his posture.

"It's nothing Roy," he said politely. "Kasanova and I were just engage in some very lively conversation." He turned back at Luigi with a fierce look. "Isn't that right, Kasanova?"

Luigi slightly glared that him but didn't push the topic any further. "Yes, very lively conversation, indeed."

Kalvin cleared his throat. "Well then, I had enough excitement for today. If anyone needs me, I shall be in my room. Gentlekoops, good day to you both,"

Kalvin turned and continues down the hallway as he heads for his room. Luigi only stared after him, still raveled by what just happened a few minutes ago. Roy came up to him and places a strong arm around his shoulders.

"Well, Kasanova," he said "it looks like you jus' got yurself a new rival."

"Great," Luigi sighed unsettling, "Just what I needed."

~XXX~

Wendy sat alone in her room, waiting for Luigi to return. She was worried that what she said back at dinner may have tick her father off and now he was taking it out on him. Of course, she could be wrong and her father just simply wanted to talk to him. Either way, she had no idea what was going on and she was starting to feel anxious.

Her head shot up when she heard the door opened. She let out a small sigh of relief to see Luigi entered unharmed. But that was soon replace with a frown when she notice how edgy he looked.

"What's wrong" she asked. "Did something happen?"

Luigi look up to her and immediately cover the distance between them. Before anything else could be said, Luigi clash his lips with hers, aggressively kissing her over control. Wendy let out a surprise muffled sound, and lay back on the bed with Luigi on top. Taking advantage of her stun expression, Luigi press on with his advance.

Overwhelmed, Wendy did the only think she could think of – kiss him back. She wraps her arms around him and started fighting for dominance. Luigi growled slightly and grew more forceful, quickly over powered her.

The way things were heating up, she was beginning to think he might be picking up on where they had left off last night. But before she knew it, his lips turn to her neck. She gasped breathlessly and moan in delight. Whatever had got him riled up was really doing wonders for her.

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Ending Note:

We got some tension between Luigi and Kalvin. Both of them are competing for Wendy's affection despite who she has already chosen. Luigi's really going to need Bowser's approval if he wants to keep the one-up against his new-found rival.

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