(A/N: Okay, here's a fun little fanfic requested by UltimateCCC. This story is going to tell us about the first time Daisy met Polterpup, but we're going to see it in a flashback! All right, now let's get this show on the road before you begin to riot!)
It was a bright, spring morning in the kingdom of Sarasaland. Everything was okay in the kingdom, but if memory serves me correctly, we're supposed to be at Daisy's Castle right now. We need to head on over there and see what's going on, so let's go!
Over at the castle, we find Princess Daisy and her husband, Sir Luigi of the Mushroom Kingdom in the courtyard, working together in Daisy's flower garden, which is something that they did every morning right after breakfast. They were currently making sure none of the princess's flowers had been eaten by any grasshoppers. So far, every flower appeared to be untouched, much to Daisy's relief.
"I think they're all okay. They look perfectly healthy to me." Luigi said, smiling as he looked over the pretty flowers that were blossoming in Daisy's garden.
"They'd better be fine. You know that if I see so much as one flower that looks like it became dinner for a grasshopper, then he or she is going to be a dead grasshopper when I find it." Daisy said as she picked up her watering can and began giving the flowers a drink of water.
"I know." said Luigi with a slight shudder. He saw the way Daisy killed grasshoppers, and it wasn't at all pleasant. But considering the damage they would do to her lovely amaryllis plants, he knew he couldn't blame her for teaching those insects a lesson they'd never forget, or even remember.
That's when the couple saw a tennis ball bouncing along the grass, a fair distance away from the flowers, followed by the sound of a small, cheerful voice calling out, "Go get it, Doggy!"
The royal couple watched as Polterpup ran after the tennis ball, barking happily. When the ball stopped, the dog picked up the ball in his mouth, brought it back to the person who had thrown it, and dropped it at that person's feet, panting happily and wagging his tail. The person playing with Polterpup was none other than Luigi and Daisy's young son, Prince Elvin of Sarasaland, who had recently celebrated his 4th birthday.
(A/N: For those of you who don't remember, or know, Elvin was born in my fanfic Papa Luigi.)
"Bravo ragazzo! Good boy!" Elvin said, patting the dog's head before picking up the tennis ball and throwing it again, prompting the ghost dog to chase after it.
"Go get it!" Elvin said, watching the dog with an excited smile on his face.
"Look at them. They're thick as thieves. And having Doggy gives Elvin an advantage over other kids his age: he ain't afraid of no ghosts." Daisy said, smiling at the spectacle.
"I know. And you loved Doggy, too, the first time you met him. Don't you remember?" Luigi asked, slipping an arm around his wife's shoulders as they watched their little boy playing 'fetch' with the ghost dog.
"Of course I remember." Daisy replied, and her mind took her back to that day.
(Flashback...)
It was during one of Daisy's visits to the Mushroom Kingdom, and she and Peach were currently standing around in the Great Hall of Mushroom Castle, waiting for the Mario Bros. to show up. You see, Luigi told the princesses that he had something he wanted them to see, and he was going to bring it to the castle with him that very day.
"So, Peach, what do you think Luigi has to show us?" Daisy asked Peach as they waited for their favorite men to show up.
"I don't really know, Daisy. He only said that he thinks we're really going to like it." Peach replied.
"Well, if he thinks that we'll really like it, then I'm going to take his word for it. Luigi is not a man to lie to princesses." Daisy said.
"You're right, Daisy. Luigi is just as good a man as Mario." Peach said.
Then the two princesses heard a knock at the door.
"Ooh! That must be them right now!" Daisy said.
"There's only one way to find out!" Peach said, hurrying to the doors and opening them. She smiled widely when she saw Mario and Luigi standing there.
"Mario! Luigi! I'm so glad to see you both! Come on in!" Peach said, motioning for the brothers to enter the building.
So Mario and Luigi walked into the castle, looking around the Great Hall with happiness. After what they had been through a few nights ago, this was a sight they really needed to see.
"Hey, guys!" Daisy happily greeted, practically skipping over to where Luigi stood.
"Ciao, mia principessa. Hello, my princess." Luigi replied, smiling at the sight of his lovely girlfriend.
"Hello, Daisy. It's-a so good to see you." Mario politely greeted the flower princess.
"So, where is it?" Daisy asked her boyfriend.
"Where's what?" Luigi asked.
"The thing you said you were bringing to show us." Daisy reminded him.
"Oh yeah!" Luigi said, but before he could get ready to launch into the show-and-tell, something leaped right into Daisy's arms, much to her surprise. And before she could even get a proper look at the object she was holding, whatever it was started licking her face in a frenzy of joy.
"Hey! That tickles!" Daisy exclaimed, laughing. She hadn't been expecting something like this to happen.
"Doggy! Down, boy!" Luigi commanded the object in his girlfriend's arms.
The thing immediately stopped licking Daisy's face and just panted happily in her arms instead.
"What is this thing?" Daisy asked, still feeling surprised as she held the panting object and looked at it.
Peach went over for a look to see what had surprised her cousin.
"Is that a...?" Peach asked, not sure what word she was looking for.
"Incontra il mio nuovo cucciolo. Meet my new puppy. I call him 'Doggy'." Luigi said.
"You got a dog?" Peach asked.
"This is a dog?" Daisy asked Luigi. When he nodded in reply, the flower princess happily hugged the dog while exclaiming, "Whee! Puppy!"
Luigi couldn't help smiling at Daisy's reaction to finding out that he got a dog. He was glad to see that she liked his new pet. He was hoping she would, since the dog seemed to like her.
"Your brother really got himself a dog?" Peach asked Mario, surprised. She never saw that coming.
"Sì ha fatto. Yes, he did. And did you notice something about the animal? It's-a not just any dog." Mario pointed out.
"It isn't?" Peach asked.
"Yeah. Take a really good look at the puppy. and tell me what you see." Mario said.
So Peach did take a good look at the animal in her cousin's arms. She realized that the dog was very cute, but it didn't really look like any dog she had ever seen in her life. But before she could wonder why that was, Luigi asked Daisy, "You really like him, huh?"
"How can I not like him? He's so adorable! Wherever did you find this little cutie?" Daisy asked as she cuddled the puppy, who looked happy to be held by a princess.
(A/N: Hey, just because Daisy is a tomboy doesn't mean she's not gonna react to something as cute as Polterpup. That sad face he made at Luigi is enough to make anybody go 'Awww...'.)
"Well, that is a very long and complicated story, but I'm willing to tell it to you and Peach, if we can sit down somewhere first." Luigi said as he unclipped the leash from his dog's collar and slipped it into his pocket.
"Oh, yes. Of course. Let's all go to the castle's sitting room and talk there." said Peach. Daisy handed the puppy back to Luigi as they walked to the sitting room. Daisy also pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her face with it.
When they got to the sitting room, Mario and Luigi allowed Peach and Daisy to sit together on the sofa, and Luigi placed the dog on Daisy's lap. The puppy looked perfectly happy to be with a couple of pretty ladies like Peach and Daisy, since Daisy started petting him again. Mario and Luigi then made themselves comfortable in some chairs near the sofa.
"I don't know if you girls have noticed, but my new dog happens to be... un fantasma, a ghost that the professor and I have come to call 'Polterpup'." Luigi began.
"A ghost?!" Peach and Daisy exclaimed, turning their attention to the dog. Sure enough, Luigi was right. The dog was white, and he appeared to be kind of transparent, like a ghost.
"Huh. How did I miss realizing this?" Daisy asked, confused.
"Wait. If he's a ghost, then how come we can touch him as if he's solid?" Peach asked. She just now realized that the dog was solid to them. Plus, the animal had licked Daisy's face, and she felt it.
"He must be un cane speciale, a special dog. But then again, what dog isn't speciale? They're commonly known as man's best friend." Mario said.
"He is speciale. But he was un fascio di malizia, a bundle of mischief at first, but that probably has to do with the events of a few nights ago, when I first discovered him." Luigi began.
"What happened? I want to know how you met this dog." Daisy said.
"Yes, please tell us how you found him." Peach said.
"Well..." Luigi said.
He began to explain the Dark Moon fiasco to the princesses. Both Peach and Daisy were surprised to hear about what had gone on. And when Luigi told them about his first encounter with the dog, and how naughty he had been, Daisy looked at the puppy and said, "Is Luigi telling the truth? A cute little thing like you was being a very naughty puppy?"
The puppy looked up at her with big, sad eyes. He was obviously feeling bad about that. Daisy wimped out when she saw that face. She couldn't stay upset with him for long.
"Aww, but look at you now, you big cutie!" Daisy exclaimed, petting him happily. That cheered up the dog considerably. He started licking Daisy's face again.
"Hey, cut that out!" Daisy laughed. Polterpup stopped licking the princess, but it didn't stop him from panting at her.
"Yup. My first encounters with this Polterpup were not that good. He was being a bad doggie." Luigi said.
"So, how did you finally get him to behave?" Peach asked as she and Daisy petted the dog. Peach had to admit that he was a cute puppy, like Daisy said.
"Simple. I had to repair the Dark Moon, which is what keeps the Evershade Valley ghosts docile. He was obviously one of the ghosts who needed that thing intact if we wanted him to behave himself." Luigi explained. But he also told them what happened to the Dark Moon, and who was behind the whole thing.
"No way! Not him!" Daisy exclaimed when she heard who had done it.
"Yes, Daisy, King Boo was behind the whole mess. He was freed from his painting." Luigi said.
"But... but how did he get out?!" Peach asked, also shocked. She'd heard that that awful ghost put Mario through complete hell when Luigi got duped into believing he'd won a mansion, but she'd relaxed when she heard that he got his comeuppance, by suffering the same fate he'd put her boyfriend through. To hear that he came back was shocking, to say the least.
Mario didn't say anything because Luigi told him the whole story the day after the whole Dark Moon incident. Mario told Luigi his side afterward, and Polterpup helped Mario feel better by licking his face when he started to feel afraid and sad. Hearing about the incident in the presence of the girls made him feel somewhat uncomfortable, despite his best attempts to hide it.
The Polterpup must have sensed that Mario was feeling bad, because he got down from Daisy's lap, trotted over to Mario, and jumped onto the arm of his chair to lick his cheek before settling onto his lap. Mario smiled slightly and began petting the dog to calm himself down as Luigi told the girls how King Boo got free. And needless to say, the princesses weren't all that happy about it.
"He did what?!" Peach and Daisy exclaimed in shock.
"Yes, girls, you heard that right. The professor went and sold King Boo's painting like a dumb dope. I don't really know who would be stupido enough to buy that painting and find a way to get him out of captivity, but just for pulling a stunt like selling the painting of quello stupido fantasma, that stupido ghost, I had to punish him. So I banned him from the mansion for two whole months. That should be enough time for him to learn his lesson: No. More. Selling. Ghost. Paintings." Luigi said.
"I don't blame you for doing that, Luigi. I think I would have done the exact same thing to him if I was in your position." Peach said, looking over at Polterpup as he rested on Mario's lap, allowing Mario to pet him. He was such a sweet puppy. Luigi was a lucky man to have a dog as cute and sweet as that.
"The dog didn't want to leave me after I forgave him for being a naughty puppy. That's how I learned that he's really a big, playful softie." Luigi said.
"And in case you haven't noticed, he's also kind of like a big plushie." Mario said as he hugged the dog, who got free of the hug and started licking his face.
"A really affectionate plushie!" Mario then added, laughing as he tried to push the dog away to keep that tongue from slobbering all over his face.
"So I adopted him, and now he's my pet." Luigi finished.
"Does Mario have some ownership of him, too?" Peach asked.
"Kind of. See?" Luigi asked, watching as the dog went back to resting on Mario's lap, allowing Mario to pet him again.
"Awww..." Peach and Daisy said in unison. The Polterpup really was a sweet dog.
Later, the Polterpup seemed to be feeling bored. And Mario noticed, because he said, "You know what? I think Doggy wants to go outside and play a game of 'fetch'."
"Well, that sounds like a fun idea, except I didn't bring the tennis ball we throw him when we play 'fetch', Mario. I left it at home." Luigi said.
"Mama-mia... I don't have it, either." said Mario.
"If you boys need a tennis ball to throw to him in a game of 'fetch', I've got plenty of those out by the tennis court. So, how about you guys go out to the courtyard and wait for me while I go and get a ball?" Peach suggested.
"Okie-dokie." said Luigi.
"That's a good idea." Daisy agreed.
So Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy went outside, with Polterpup following them, wagging his tail. He knew well what going outside meant, and that's exactly what he wanted to do.
Mario, Luigi, and Daisy were busy petting the playful dog while Peach went to the tennis court to get a tennis ball, and then she walked back to where her friends were.
"Okay, here it is!" Peach said, holding up the tennis ball.
Polterpup heard the princess's voice, looked up to see the ball in her hand, then ran over to Peach, looking at the ball in her hand with excitement. He was so excited that he even started barking.
"What's going on? Why is he acting like this?" Peach asked Luigi.
"He wants you to throw the ball! Throw it, Peach!" Luigi told her.
"Okay, then." said Peach. She threw the ball as far as she could and said, "Go get it, boy!"
Polterpup raced after the ball as Peach made her way over to the others.
"He's so adorable and lovable! He's the best dog I've ever known!" Daisy said.
"Isn't he?" Luigi asked.
"I already like him. He looks to be a really sweet puppy." Peach said as Polterpup walked over to them with the ball in his mouth. He dropped it at everyone's feet and panted while wagging his tail.
"Okay, Doggy." said Luigi, reaching for the ball. But at the same time, Daisy reached for it, and their hands touched. The two looked up at each other, blushing, and Daisy said, "It's okay, Luigi. You can throw it to him first. He is your dog, after all."
"Okie-dokie." said Luigi. He picked up the ball and threw it. Polterpup ran after it. The dog even leaped up and caught the ball in his mouth.
"Wow!" said Daisy.
"Bravo ragazzo! Good boy!" Luigi said as the dog walked over and dropped the ball at his feet.
"My turn!" Daisy said, picking up the ball and throwing it. Once again, Polterpup leaped into the air and caught the ball in his mouth.
"That move never fails to amaze me." Mario said as the puppy brought back the ball. Then Mario threw him the ball.
Polterpup's first visit at Peach's Castle went very well. By the end of the day, Peach and Daisy both loved Polterpup. They loved playing 'fetch' with him, and even joined Mario and Luigi when they took him for a walk around the Mushroom Kingdom. He was a sweet, obedient little dog, and Luigi was a good master to him.
During the rest of Daisy's visit, she was glad to see Polterpup, and he really liked seeing her, too. They got to be very good friends during Daisy's time in the Mushroom Kingdom. Maybe Polterpup liked her so much because he could see how much she loved his master, or maybe because she was so friendly to him. Whatever the reason, they got along great, much to Luigi's happiness.
On the last day of Daisy's visit, she was at Luigi's Mansion, spending time with Luigi and his much-loved pet.
"Is today really your last day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Daisy?" Luigi asked his girlfriend as they sat together on the couch in the parlor, having a quiet conversation. Polterpup was lying on the floor at their feet.
"As much as I hate to say it, yes." Daisy said.
"Mama-mia... I really hate when the last day arrives, because that means when tomorrow comes, we have to say good-bye to each other and then I have to miss you until either your next visit, or until I come and visit you in Sarasaland." Luigi said.
"Yeah, it's no fun. I hate being so far away from you. (sigh)... I know absence makes the heart grow fonder, but still... I love you too much..." Daisy said, giving Luigi a hug, which he eagerly returned.
Polterpup noticed that Luigi and Daisy seemed unhappy about something. He didn't like seeing them like this. He made a sad noise and looked up at the pair with puppy-dog eyes.
"Oh, look. I think Doggy's going to miss you, too, Daisy." Luigi noted.
"I don't doubt it." Daisy said as she and Luigi got down from the couch and knelt down on the floor next to the dog. Polterpup rolled over onto his back and allowed the couple to give him a belly rub, which was something he always enjoyed. And as Daisy rubbed the puppy's tummy, she cooed, "Aww, who's gonna miss me when I go, huh? Who's gonna miss me? Who's gonna miss meeee?"
(A/N: I came up with Daisy's dialogue from a scene in "Toy Story 2".)
"Both of us are gonna miss you." Luigi said, seeing how vigorously Daisy rubbed the dog's belly during that last question.
"That's right!" Daisy said. She then gave Luigi a kiss on the cheek, which made him blush.
(End flashback)
"Do you remember when you brought him here for the first time?" Daisy asked Luigi.
"How could I forget? Everyone in the castle may have been surprised upon hearing that Doggy was a ghost dog, but by the end of my visit, they were all sad to see us go because they absolutely adored him." Luigi said.
"Come on! You saw the face he made at them when you told them what he was! Even I had trouble saying no to a face like that the first time I saw it!" Daisy said.
"That was the same face he gave me after the Dark Moon was repaired and all the ghosts were docile again. I forgave him right away for being a naughty little puppy. Seeing how apologetic he looked for what he did melted my heart." Luigi replied.
"And when Elvin was born, I noticed how he seemed to think his special job was to watch over him, the same way Poochy looks after Mario Jr. and his new sister, Pesca." Daisy added.
(A/N: Someday, I will write the fanfic where Mario and Peach have their daughter. My good friend, MWolfL, gave me the idea for the name of the Mushroom Kingdom's new little princess.)
"Yeah. Dogs are very smart animals. I'm really glad I met Doggy; he's turning out to be the perfect family pet." Luigi said.
When Luigi and Daisy finished taking care of the flowers, it was time for them to put the gardening supplies back in the shed, and Polterpup noticed what they were up to. He went over to help his master and mistress with the chore. When that was done, everyone went back inside, and Daisy gave the dog a belly rub for being a wonderful, well-behaved little puppy that she was glad to know.
The End
Well, that's the fanfic. I do hope you all liked reading about how Daisy's first meeting with Polterpup went, and finding that they're still close to this day.