(I do not own any of the characters mentioned in this fic. They are property of Nintendo and NintenDrawer. Enjoy!)
Steady Sweeties: Part II
Chapter One – The Wedding
It was finally time; the moment she had prepared for for months. Princess Daisy stared at herself in her dressing room mirror. Even with the white veil covering her face, she was able to appreciate the beautiful makeup Birdo had done for her: Exquisitely long eyelashes, royally red lipstick, perfectly pink blush. Even a tomboy like Daisy feels good being dolled up every now and then.
She ran her hands over her white dress. The strapless gown was silky smooth, that much she could tell even with her matching elbow-length gloves on. The gown was a similar length to her every-day orange and yellow one, covering her pearly pumps, although she would much rather be wearing sneakers. She wore a white choker around her neck, which had the same flower emblem as her earrings. She then reached up to touch her hair, which was perfectly styled and sprayed to prevent any frizz or flyaways.
She was ready.
Just as she turned toward the door, she heard a knock. "Who is it?" she called, startled.
"It's me," a light voice responded from the other side. Daisy recognized the voice as belonging to Princess Peach, her maid of honor.
Daisy poked her head out the door. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to give you this," Peach replied, holding a bouquet of white roses and daisies.
Daisy slapped her hand to her forehead. "Oh man, I can't believe I forgot my own flowers." She retrieved the bouquet from Peach. It had a bit of weight to it. "Thanks for bringing this. I'm just a little frazzled."
The blonde princess giggled. "I understand. It's normal to forget things on an important day such as this. But there's one thing you absolutely must remember."
The brunette sniffed the sweet, elegant bouquet. "And what's that?"
"It's your special day. Enjoy yourself!"
Daisy gave her best friend a gentle smile. "Thanks, Peach. That's the goal."
Heavy footsteps were heard approaching from behind Peach.
Peach turned and saw Daisy's father, King Richard, a strong-looking man wearing a royal purple robe with white fur trim. His dark pants matched his dress shoes. He had reddish-brown hair with graying roots, with a matching mustache. "Princess Peach, it's time," he spoke with a firm voice.
"Thank you, your majesty," Peach said while curtsying. She turned to Daisy. "I'll see you out there." And with that, she turned on her heel and left.
The king approached his daughter. His deep brown eyes gently gazed at her with a soft look she did not recall ever seeing before. "You look beautiful, my dear," he said softly.
"Thanks, Dad," she returned with as much softness.
The faint sound of violin music began to float down the hallway.
"That's our cue," Richard stated, holding out his arm.
"It sure is," Daisy said. She linked arms with her father. "Here we go."
The doors of the Sarasan chapel opened. Daisy and her father stepped in beat with the string quintet of toads and goombos elegantly playing a wedding march.
Daisy felt her breath catch in her throat. Despite being quite familiar with her castle's chapel, something about each wooden pew being filled with guests staring at her felt overwhelming. Her eyes darted all over the room to avoid their gazes. She tried to focus on the hieroglyphics etched into the pillars, or the colorful flower patterns on the reflective marble floor.
Burying her eyes in her bouquet, Daisy suddenly felt an unfamiliar emotion was over her. She felt her chest tighten, her stomach jump into her throat… What the heck is this?
Moistness lightly accumulated under her arms and on her face. Oh no.
"Dad," she leaned into her father, whispering, "I'm nervous."
The king held his daughter's wrist. "Nothing to fear, my dear," he assured. "You made it this far. Keep your head up and don't back down." That was his go-to advice for Daisy since she was a child.
The reassurance eased her slightly, but the cold sweat continued.
Until…
She looked straight forward, and there he stood. Luigi, her love. Their sapphire eyes met, and their faces melted into adoring smiles.
Suddenly, nothing else mattered.
She could drink in the sight of him like this forever: his normally messy hat-hair handsomely combed, his white tuxedo with a green tie adding a pop of color.
Her eyes flitted slightly, seeing her best friends, her bridesmaids, Princess Peach, Rosalina, and Pauline. They each wore glittering strapless gowns in their respective favorite colors, pink, cyan, and red.
Shifting her eyes to Luigi's side, there stood Mario, sporting a black formal outfit with a red bowtie. She was then surprised to see who was standing besides Mario. Professor E. Gadd! Come to think of it, she did not ask Luigi who his groomsmen would be, besides the obvious, Mario. To the left of the professor stood Toad and Yoshi, looking happy and adorable as ever.
Then it hit her.
She swiftly scanned the seats… Everyone was standing for her. And as much love as she was feeling in her heart, her guests were reflecting it back at her. She met Luigi's soft gaze.
She tried swallowing the lump in her throat. It threatened to release emotions she had to hide. She refused to blink, because the hot tears welling up in her eyes would flow without ceasing.
She continued on, marching to the beat. Almost there.
Finally arriving at the altar, her father gave her a tight hug before shaking Luigi's hand. Daisy's gaze followed her father as he took a seat next to her mother, who was drying her misty eyes with a handkerchief.
After handing her bouquet to Peach, Daisy felt Luigi take one of her hands in his. She peered into his eyes; they were watery too.
"Hi, Daisy," he whispered.
Daisy could not prevent the giant smile that spread on her lips. "Hi, Weeg."
Suddenly, Lakitu appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, floating on his cloud. He held a large, leather-bound book in his hands. The music stopped, and the guests sat. Lakitu cleared his throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to unite this man and this princess in matrimony."
After a few minutes of sermon reading, it was time to exchange vows and rings.
Lakitu gestured toward Luigi. "Now, repeat after me."
Luigi nodded, and repeated the vows Lakitu recited to him. "I, L-Luigi, take you, D-D-Daisy, to be my w-w-wife, to h-have and to h-hold…"
Daisy became worried as Luigi stuttered. She noticed him looking out into the crowd. She lightly stroked his face. "Hey, don't worry." She turned his head with her hand to face her. "Pretend we're the only ones here. This is about us." She smiled sweetly to him.
Luigi swallowed, took a rejuvenating breath, and continued. "...to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part."
Lakitu turned to Daisy. "Repeat after me."
And she did so. "I, Daisy, take you, Luigi, to be my husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part."
Facing the guests now, Lakitu stated, "Luigi and Daisy have chosen rings to exchange with each other to symbolize their unending love."
That is when Luigi's ghost dog, Polterpup, appeared with two rings floating inside of his translucent body. Luigi and Daisy stared, stunned.
"That might be a problem," Lakitu said, pointing at the ghost dog.
With a yip, Polterpup shook his body, and the rings phased out of him and soared through the air.
Instinctively, Luigi leaped, catching both rings in his hand.
Everyone cheered and clapped, including Lakitu.
"Wow, Luigi, you saved our wedding!' Daisy joked.
Luigi rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, heh, it was nothing," his nervous chuckled trailed off as the applause silenced.
After the exchange of rings, Lakitu floated slightly higher and addressed the guests. "Now, if anyone has any reason as to why these two should not be wed, speak now, or forever hold your piece."
Luigi and Daisy both felt a lump form in their throats as the room went silent.
Silence…
Silence…
It was deafening.
Lakitu drew in a breath. "Well, if no one has any objections then–"
"Wah!"
Luigi, Daisy, and the rest of the wedding party looked on in horror as a tall, bony figure seemed to rise out of nowhere in the middle of the crowd. There he stood, wearing a perfectly tailored purple suit, slicked back brown hair, and a single red rose in his left hand.
"Waluigi?!" Luigi gasped. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Daisy pulled Luigi closer to her, harshly. "What is he doing here?!" she hissed.
"I-I-I-I…" Luigi's eyes darted between Daisy and Waluigi. "I don't know!"
"Oh, my dear friend, Luigi," Waluigi approached the altar with a confident stroll. "I must say, I was rather surprised to receive an invitation to your wedding." Pulling the invitation from his interior pocket, he waved it in the air as proof.
Daisy clenched her teeth."You invited him?!"
Luigi took a step back. "No, no! I-I mean…" His hands shook wildly, watching as his arch-enemy came closer. "I mean, I guess I did, b-but, it was an accident!"
"An accident? Now, that's just rude." Waluigi wedged himself in between the bride and groom. "Come on, Luigi, enemies or not, we're practically family. Of course I'd support you on your special day." He outstretched his hand, waiting for a handshake.
Luigi hesitated. His eyes wandered around the room nervously, and he met the gaze of everyone in it. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Let's make up," Waluigi cooed with an eerie smile.
Luigi swallowed hard. Is he really here to make up? Is he really here to support me? he asked himself. He remembered all the times Wario would team up with Waluigi to ruin whatever good times he was having with Mario and their friends. And not to mention all the times he would put the moves on Daisy, much to her discomfort. He did this even after they started dating! There's no way…
"You know, it ain't nice to leave me hangin'." Waluigi took a step closer, holding the rose behind his back, arm remaining outstretched. "Let's make up and be friends. Come on."
Luigi's breath quickened as the conflict within him burned hotter. His eyes darted from Waluigi's eyes, his empty hand waiting for a shake, Daisy fuming, and the guests staring expectantly. All of their collective gazes pierced his core like a red hot needle. The ball was in Luigi's court now. He had to make a move.
To make up with his arch-enemy, or to kick him out?
With the pressure rising, his hand met Waluigi's. He made his choice.
At first, Waluigi grinned, and they shook hands kindly. But then, his eyes went wild. He yanked Luigi forward, and threw him back.
Luigi landed on his back, hard, in front of Mario. He and Peach ran to his aid.
"Luigi!" Daisy screamed. She tried to run to him, but Waluigi blocked her way.
"Ah-ah-ah! I don't think so," he said, snickering. "Now you're all mine, Princess."
"Ugh, get out of my way!" Daisy tried to shove past him, but he shoved her back. He took on a defensive stance.
"Daisy, Daisy! No need to be so hostile!" Waluigi pleaded cooly. "When I found out you were actually marrying this weakling," he said, gesturing to Luigi, knocked out on the floor, "my heart shattered into a million pieces. I never thought it would ever be repaired." He fell to one knee, holding up the rose. "Marry me instead, Princess Daisy Sarasa. I'm not weak like him. I'll take care of you and protect you and cherish you better than he, or any other man can."
Daisy's jaw dropped. She was rendered speechless by this ridiculous display.
"Marry us!" Waluigi commanded Lakitu.
Daisy shook her head, coming back to her senses. "As if!"
Waluigi drooped. "W-what?"
"Are you crazy? No, are you actually insane?! What makes you think I would ever marry a slimeball like you?"
The skinny man stood up, taking steps closer to Daisy. "B-but Daisy, I lo–"
"I don't want to hear it!" Daisy shouted. "Get out! NOW!"
"Wait!"
Growling, the fires of Daisy's temper had flared. Drawing her fist back, she launched a punch so hard to Waluigi's face that he literally flew out of the chapel, causing a Waluigi-shaped hole to form in the large wooden door.
After catching her breath for a brief moment, she jumped to Luigi's side. "Are you all right, sweetie?"
Now conscious, Luigi stood and brushed himself off. "Y-yes, I'm fine."
Rolling up his sleeves, Mario marched toward the door. "I'm gonna give that guy a piece of my mind!" he spat.
"Mario, Mario!" Daisy called. She grabbed his shoulder, and he looked back at her. "There's no need. I don't think he'll come back. And if he does," she shook her fist, "he'll know what to expect."
Mario agreed, and everyone returned to their respective spots at the altar. Daisy and Luigi joined hands once again.
Lakitu's eyes flicked around the room. "Um… Anyone else have any objections?"
Daisy's eyes shot daggers at Lakitu.
"Okay, okay! Never mind," he bowed his head apologetically. "Now then, moving on."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride!"
Luigi lifted Daisy's veil, and they shared their first kiss as husband and wife. The guests' applause flooded the cathedral.
After their blissful kiss, the couple turned to face them with elated grins. The strings began to play, and it was everyone's signal to follow the couple to the reception. Flower petals rained on them as they made their way through the threshold.
Mario kept his eye out for any sign of Waluigi. He needed to protect his brother and sister-in-law from a disaster like that from ever happening again. But as they walked through the hallway, there was no trace of Waluigi anywhere. Perhaps he finally learned his lesson.
Thank you so much for being patient with me. I really, really struggled writing this wedding scene lol. And on top of struggling, I had multiple tragedies occur one right after the other in my personal life, isn't that just lovely? Anyway, the next part won't take eight months to write... hopefully...
I feel like this installment of my Luaisy series might be kinda cringe sorry if you think it's cringe unless that's just me overthinking lololol anyways I hope you enjoyed anyway!
First story in the series: Shy Sidekicks
I also have a standalone Luaisy fic called Summer Day Getaway.
Thanks for reading! :D