2.

"The more I reflect on that mission, the more I became convinced that the Commodore had lost his mind. Enlisting the aid of Super Mario, the Pyreburner, didn't sound like an easy mission. How do you convince the man who's killed countless members of the Imperial Koopa Troop, both Army and Navy personnel alike, to help you? The Emperor had specifically requested Mario's aid, though, and that was something we hadn't ever known him to do. Mario helped the Emperor during the Invader's attack, but… still…"

Belle Fontiere, Imperial Commodore, Koopa Empire, History Channel, Before the Great Reconciliation, 1920

The sounds of chopping echoed throughout Luigi Segale's apartment. Luigi hummed cheerfully, tipping the cutting board into a pot of simmering beef. The beef stew was a simple dish, but it was one that he enjoyed making. The smells wafting from the pot caused him no end of delight, and his stomach rumbled in anticipation. He carefully stirred the pot and took an experimental taste before nodding in approval. It didn't match their mother's cooking, but then Mario had always said nothing topped their mother's cooking. Luigi sighed, began ladling some of the stew into a bowl, and moved to the table.

A knock on the door caused him to jump slightly, nearly sloshing some of the stew onto the table. Sighing, he wondered if this was another one of those pranks that some of the kids who lived in the complex were fond of; grabbing a rag, he wiped his hands and stepped over to the door. Luigi sighed and opened the door, half expecting another prank…

"Hey, bro," Mario greeted with a slight smile. "Sorry for dropping by unannounced like this." He rubbed the back of his neck before sniffing the air, "Oh… wow… looks like I just interrupted dinner for you?"

Luigi shook his head good-naturedly before stepping aside, "Come on in, bro." He chuckled, "I made enough for two."

Mario heaved a sigh before crossing the threshold into Luigi's apartment. Luigi quirked an eyebrow, noting a somewhat pensive look on Mario's face. Now, that was interesting… what had grabbed Mario's attention? Luigi directed him to the awaiting bowl and began to ladle another bowl full of stew. He glanced at Mario through the reflection, and to his mild astonishment, Mario wasn't trying to shovel as much of the food into his mouth as he could. That was certainly odd. Mario had one major love in the world: his stomach. As Luigi finished ladling his bowl, he returned to the table and sat down with a theatrical sigh.

"Hey, if it's not good, then you don't have to pretend to like it," Luigi said with a cheery grin. "Trust me, you're not going to hurt my feelings."

Mario jolted as if pricked by a cactus, "Er… no, it's not that, just… a lot on my mind right now." He mumbled, "This is far better than anything I can cook."

Luigi only snorted, "That's because I know how to make food that isn't a uniform grey color that looks bland and unappetizing."

The corners of Mario's lips twitched, "That's how you know it's done!"

Luigi only shook his head in amusement, "Come on, bro. You never drop by unannounced; you'd have been halfway through your bowl and wondering about seconds by now." He said, "Talk to me, Mario."

The look on his brother's face caused Luigi to narrow his eyes. Was this…? He sighed and moved to speak before Mario raised a hand to forestall him. Mario chewed slowly, evidently trying to work out some deep mystery before he leaned back and sighed, "Well… I got a royal summons up to the palace." Mario began slowly. It took considerable effort on Luigi's part to keep from rolling his eyes. Rather than get bogged down in the convoluted mess that was Mario's love life, Luigi only nodded. Mario continued, "Peach was actually the one who issued it, and… we had a long needed if awkward, conversation about… things."

Luigi only arched an eyebrow, "Oh?" He inquired slowly, "And… how did that go?"

Mario chuckled as he wagged a finger at Luigi, "I know that look, bro." He said reprovingly, "The conversation went about as smoothly as things could go, I guess? It's a bit early to tell, quite honestly. But it's going to take time." He admitted with a shrug, "I think though she let something slip that she didn't really intend on letting slip."

Luigi set his spoon down and looked intently at Mario, "Which was…?" He prodded.

"Did… something happen between Peach and King Russet?" Mario asked, "It seemed like something was happening behind the scenes or something."

The green-clad plumber's eyes widened fractionally. Mario generally preferred to keep out of the political arena whenever possible. Luigi picked up his spoon and scooped up a bite of beef before sitting back and chewing thoughtfully. Thinking back to the various reports on the net, the television, the papers, and the radio, had anything really jumped out at him? Grabbing his napkin, he dabbed at the corners of his mouth and sighed softly, "I… hadn't heard of anything between Peach and her father…" He admitted. "Maybe whatever she let slip has something to do with some of the rumblings I've heard from the Senate about her appointment as Prime Minister?"

Mario looked confused, "I thought the King could appoint whoever he wanted as Prime Minister?"

"You're partly right," Luigi confirmed. "The King or Queen of the Mushroom Kingdom can appoint or dismiss a Prime Minister at their leisure." He explained. "Historically, they have tried to avoid naming the Crown Prince or Crown Princess as their Prime Minister, though that was after King Euhorn Toadstool's reign."

Mario's eyes lit up, and he snapped his fingers, "That's right!" he exclaimed, "The Mushroom Kingdom Civil War!"

Luigi snorted. Mario may not have had the patience for politics, but he certainly had enough patience to study the root of politics: History. Luigi leaned forward, "Got it in one! It was also when Crimino started voicing its desire for independence," Luigi pointed out. "Many people are drawing comparisons between King Euhorn's appointment of Princess Valessa as Prime Minister to King Russet appointing Princess Peach as Prime Minister." Luigi shook his head, "But the situation is vastly different as Crimino hasn't had an independence referendum in seventy years. Peach is the furthest thing from Princess Valessa that we could have. Still… I guess people are worried."

"I'm surprised that Lord Graemon hasn't been trying to beat the drums about the two brothers from Crimino." Mario said, gesturing between himself and Luigi, "Peach said he advocated for reforms and maybe beefing up the Mushroom Kingdom's security. What's your take on that?"

Luigi hummed thoughtfully. Duke Hoster Graemon was known for peppering in barbs at himself and Mario. Still, he had been one of those rare few in the House of Lords who could get certain initiatives onto the Senate floor for debate. When Peach unveiled her ambitious little reform project, Luigi had been surprised to see Graemon championing many of her initiatives on the Senate floor. Luigi shook his head and frowned, "Yes… Lord Graemon has been rather invested in helping Peach with her New Society Program, hasn't he…" He muttered. "Relief, Recovery, and Reform." He added in a dignified tone.

Mario snorted, "This isn't like him, though, I take it?" He asked warily. "I mean… this is the same pompous jackass who thought we should've killed Bowser when we first rescued Peach."

Luigi laughed loudly, "Hand him a glass of water, and he'll squint at how strange the water tastes…" He agreed, "I know Lord Graemon has had some setbacks in the past, so maybe this is his way of trying to rebuild his reputation."

Mario shrugged, "All I know is that I'm amazed that guy gets anywhere with his head as inflated as it is." Mario glanced at the darkening skies, "Who knows? Maybe you're right."

Luigi stared at his brother and sighed, "You look tired, Mario." He observed. "Still not sleeping well?"

The red-clad plumber only shook his head, "It's not that. It's just… something doesn't feel right about any of it." Mario said, finishing the last bits of his stew, "I can't put my finger on it." He pinched the bridge of his nose, "Maybe I need to take some time off…"

Luigi chuckled, "Like what? A vacation to Isle Delfino? I know you talked about trying to save up for a trip there at one point. Personally, I don't see the fuss. From what you told me about Marrymore, that'd be a good place to vacation."

"I think Marrymore's a good place, but that damn hotel is expensive as hell…" Mario grumbled. "No… I was thinking about going to New Donk City for a while." He leaned back, smiling wistfully, "It's a lot different there, you know? Everywhere else, I'm always Super Mario. Back home? I was just the guy crazy enough to chase down a kong."

Luigi snorted, "I'm still wondering how you managed to walk away from that." He chuckled faintly. Mario always seemed to have a knack for making friends without much effort, and it was always a point of envy for Luigi. But moments like this? It always reminded him of the fact that his brother was just as human as he was, "Well, don't forget about Sarasaland."

Mario waved a hand, "Lu, the fact that you're the one more fondly remembered has less to do with my little… distraction and more to do with you stepping up to the plate." He commented. "Give yourself some credit."

Luigi felt the corners of his mouth twitch. Only Mario could describe the unexpected takeover of Princess Peach's castle as a distraction. And really, the adventure in Sarasaland did help him quite a bit. The fact that Mario wasn't embittered by it made Luigi feel terrible for being envious of Mario's fame. Luigi shifted in his seat, "Hey Mario…" He began cautiously. This would go one of two ways, "…Pauline's still there, any plans to see her?"

Pauline Verducci had been a longtime friend of theirs since childhood, but more importantly, she had been Mario's first girlfriend. The aftermath of their breakup had been a sore spot for months, and despite it being five years after the fact, Luigi had to admit that the events after the Smithy attack had him more than a little nervous. Mario's face darkened at the question, and Luigi braced himself…

Instead of an outburst or angry grunt, Mario sighed and shook his head, "No…" He said quietly, "It's… far too late for that now." He paused briefly and looked as if he was seeing something that only he could see, "Whatever magic she and I once had? That's gone, unfortunately." A smile touched his face, "Besides… I'm sure she has a million and one better things to do than to come find me."

Luigi couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over him. Instead of voicing that relief, Luigi stood and gathered the dishes before setting them in the sink, "Well… whatever you do, don't gamble away your crowns at the casino." He grinned at Mario, "More importantly, you should have fun."

Mario snorted and gave a mock pout, "Without reckless gambling? Come on, Lu! Don't take away all the fun!" He stood up and stretched, "Well… I need to get out of your hair! Thanks for the dinner, bro." He smiled faintly, "I'll probably swing by before I head out to New Donk, so we'll chat then!"

Luigi shook his head before moving towards Mario and hugging him tightly, "Take care of yourself, Mario." He said sincerely.

"Of course!" Mario grinned as he tapped the brim of his cap and exited the apartment.

Alone once more, Luigi sighed and began the task of washing the dishes. Mario's aversion to politics was legendary. Save for a small meeting with Lord Graemon, Mario had never bothered to comment on political affairs, leading many people to assume he aligned with their political biases. What had pierced that fog of indifference? More specifically, what was happening behind the scenes? Setting the pot on the drying rack, Luigi couldn't help but be concerned.

Settling into a plush armchair, Peach exhaled wearily, mulling over her conversation with Mario. She hadn't expected it to go nearly that well. Mario seemed to have worked through his own emotional turmoil from the past six months, which she had to be grateful for. The fact that he was making self-deprecating jokes again bode well as far as she had been concerned. Confronting the issue head-on had been precisely what her longtime caretaker, whom she had affectionately nicknamed "Granny," had recommended.

She gave a hateful glare to the mountain of paperwork on her desk. Despite the best efforts she had put forth, the work never seemed to end. Proposal after proposal had made it onto the floor of the Senate, and specifically, of the five bills she had given to be presented, only three of them had passed muster. In the political world, this was part and parcel of the profession. Yet, her father had only named her as Prime Minister after she had presented him with reports of the sorry state of the Mushroom Kingdom. The infrastructure was in dire need of a comprehensive overhaul, and the military itself needed radical rebuilding. She had called the idea that she had presented to the King a "New Society," but maybe she had been overzealous when suggesting that name. Her instincts said otherwise, leading her to extend an olive branch to the Duke of Ironpointe.

Tracing her lower lip with a thumb, she couldn't help but scowl. Lord Graemon certainly had made it a point to be as instrumental as possible when it came to getting her bills off the floor in the Senate. She still couldn't pinpoint why he was so adamant about helping her. Rising from her seat, Peach stretched and yawned before pushing any thoughts of politics back. She hated taking her work with her whenever she was going to relax. As she left her study, she nodded to two guards, who promptly snapped to a salute.

Walking out into the palace courtyard, she inhaled the evening air, relishing the simple joy of being able to set aside her work, however briefly it may have been. Sitting on a bench, she leaned back and thought back to some advice her predecessor had given her. Renard Cox had advised her that Graemon was a potent form of medication, but he had cautioned her that Graemon was far too potent for everyday problems. The revolutionary nature of her reforms certainly necessitated such a potent prescription, didn't it? She thought to how Mario was so averse to politics, yet Luigi took to political puzzles like a cheep-cheep to water. Maybe she needed to make use of Luigi's observational skills.

The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted her thoughts, and it took skilled discipline on her part to keep from groaning in irritation. Opening her eyes, she turned to see a thin, reedy man with snow-white hair combed back and piercing blue eyes approaching her. Peach was immensely thankful for her tutors constantly drilling the need to maintain decorum even in a seemingly private meeting. She stood and made sure that her best regal smile was on her face, "Lord Graemon, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" she inquired. "Surely, you didn't journey to the palace just to see me?"

The thin man's lips curved faintly as he adjusted his necktie, "No, Your Highness, I was summoned to His Majesty's office," he stated. His expression darkened slightly, "Certain colleagues of ours have been rather insistent on getting the King to intercede on the matter of your New Society programs."

Peach felt her eyebrows raise fractionally. That was certainly news to her. Since when did members of the Senate bypass the Prime Minister and go straight to the monarch? Peach pursed her lips. It wasn't typically done, but the monarchy did have certain powers to invoke in the Senate. The only thing that stood out to her… Peach sighed and shook her head, "They want His Majesty to recall me from my post and move for another to take the post?" She inquired.

Graemon raised a gloved hand and chuckled softly, "Rest assured, Highness, these are the mere murmurs and grumblings of unhappy Senators. This is nothing compared to what we dealt with six months ago." He explained. "I've made it clear to His Majesty that if you were to be removed, many senators would all resign in protest."

Peach couldn't help but feel her lip curve into a smile. That was always a lever that the Senate could pull if it meant getting a monarch to act or not act as they wished. Her appointment hadn't been the most popular move that her father had pulled, but even so, it was a decision she had not only accepted but actively wanted. Peach shook her head tiredly, "Sometimes I have to wonder if it was wise to want this job…" She murmured. "Sometimes, I think the Senate is happier when the monarchy stays out of their affairs, and we stick to being window dressing."

The Duke chuckled, "Well, it certainly shook things up when His Majesty named you Prime Minister." He mused, "I trust you've been working with that lovely lady from Monstro Town to begin production of hypercrete, Highness?"

She nodded, "Goomhilde has been more than happy to cooperate with us on that matter." Peach explained. "The other unique properties exclusive to Imperial hypercrete are the only thing we would lack, but the practical benefits alone more than make up for it."

Graemon chuckled faintly, "Perhaps it's not something we should tell Lord Butler about in too much detail…" He murmured, "I had a proposal to suggest with you, if I may…?"

How often did such informal meetings come with these "suggestions" to include in her bills, she wondered? Peach sighed softly, "Of course, my lord." She replied.

"I know my suggestion of a civil service wasn't something you approved of." Graemon began frankly, "But, I've looked at policies from other nations, and the Emerald Republic's own public works programs gave me an idea: We partner with the private sector on certain vital services and set up a jobs program with them through the Royal Engineers."

Peach frowned thoughtfully, weighing the option. The idea had its merits, and a significant investment into short-term expenses with long-term benefits was something that she had argued for quite extensively. Peach nodded slowly, "If you can provide me with an outline of how you see this proposal functioning, I'll happily consider it."

Graemon nodded, and for a moment, the man looked less like a man in his mid-fifties and more like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He cleared his throat and seemed to summon his nerve, "There is… a small favor I was hoping to ask of you, Highness…" He began before raising a placating hand, "I understand if you can't do so, but… tomorrow evening, I will be hosting a charity gala, and well… I was hoping you might do me the honor of attending?"

Peach blinked in surprise. It wasn't the worst invitation she could have received, and funnily, Graemon seemed almost embarrassed by the fact he was even asking her. For all intents, she really didn't want to attend the gala, but it would've looked bad if the Crown Princess rejected the offer out of hand. Peach had to silently curse that she was both a representative of the monarchy and the head of her government, so any damage there would be twofold. Peach only nodded with a polite smile on her face, "I would be honored, Lord Graemon."

The Duke of Ironpointe smiled broadly and clasped his hands together, "Thank you, Your Highness!" He exclaimed happily. "I assure you, it will be an evening to remember!"

Graemon promptly bowed with a grace that betrayed his thin frame before pivoting on his heel and striding away. Peach maintained her polite façade for a few more moments before visibly wilting with exhaustion and allowing her eyes to close momentarily. Absentmindedly massaging her forehead, she had to seriously debate the merit of a second glass of wine tonight. How did Daisy maintain such enthusiasm for her position as the Imperial Princess of Sarasaland? Peach smiled faintly; in many ways, she envied her cousin, not least of all because Daisy seemed to always be in good spirits. Then again… Daisy attributed much of that to unleashing her frustrations on the tennis courts.

Her smile broadened as she thought of her larger-than-life uncle, Cedaris. The man's genial nature often was at odds with whatever one expected the Emperor of Sarasaland to be like. One expected a very dour personality in line with rulers like King Challah of the Waffle Kingdom or even Peach's father. Still, somehow, Cedaris had managed to make Sarasaland one of the most respected powers on the continent. She smirked faintly, recalling that even Bowser didn't dare openly antagonize Sarasaland. It was a shame that so many senators wanted to act like the Koopa Empire when Sarasaland would've been a much more suitable nation to mimic…

"Your Highness?"

It was a near thing, but Peach barely held on to her temper this time. Opening her eyes, she turned and found herself surprised by the presence of a broad-shouldered man with tanned skin. Unlike Graemon, this man seemed aware of her personal space and stood several steps away. The man wore a stark white suit and black shirt, and his hazel eyes seemed to look at anything but her. Peach smiled faintly, "Ah… Lord Kiramman?" She said her weariness must have been evident as he looked at her with concern. Nevertheless, Peach gestured for him to approach.

Kiramman's eyes widened momentarily before he bowed stiffly. Peach found herself frowning at the display, not that she didn't find it endearing, but it made her wonder how much she had taken her casual friendship with Mario and Luigi for granted. Kiramman swallowed nervously, "Um… it's quite a pleasure to see you outside the Senate, Highness." He stammered.

Peach snorted in amusement. Kiramman's awkwardness was endearing, if only because of how genuine it was. She looked at him with a disarming smile, "Relax, my lord." She said in a soothing tone. "Please… join me."

Kiramman's stiffness did highlight to Peach how much she took her friendship with the brothers for granted. Kiramman sighed as he looked up at the evening sky, "Um… I do apologize for dropping by unannounced, Highness. I, uh…" He swallowed hard, "I had to meet with His Majesty and Lord Graemon and uh…"

He had met with her father and Lord Graemon? Peach tilted her head in concern before she glanced at him, "Lord Graemon mentioned that many of the senators wished for me to be removed from my post." She began slowly. "If he is to be believed, then many others would resign in protest if His Majesty were to remove me."

Kiramman seemed to stiffen at the mention of Lord Graemon, yet he didn't seem to get angry at the mention of the other senators. Kiramman sighed and nodded slowly, "You are correct on both counts, Highness. Many senators feel His Majesty overstepped his bounds by naming you prime minister." He paused for a moment, "But… Lord Graemon is correct in that many senators would resign in protest if you were removed."

Peach nodded thoughtfully, "And what of you, my lord? Where do you stand on the matter of my premiership?" She smiled, "Please speak frankly, my lord."

The young lord sighed softly, "I would be among those who would resign if you were to be removed, Highness." He admitted. "Your programs have already brought new jobs into Duskhaven and for my constituents? That is enough for me to contemplate resigning in protest."

The Princess smiled faintly, "I see." She said and rose to her feet, "Have you eaten, Lord Kiramman?" Peach struggled to maintain a sense of dignity and grace as Kiramman seemed to splutter, "Well… in that case, perhaps you would do me the honor of dining with me, my lord?"

Kiramman seemed to gape like a fish before nodding, "Y-yes, Your Highness."

Peach raised a finger, "On one condition." She amended, "Just call me Peach, please. I get so much of 'Your Highness' that I'm heartily sick of it."

"Um… y-yes, Your— I mean… yes, Peach." Kiramman stammered and rubbed the back of his neck. "Um… i-if it's all the same though, I'd prefer to address you by your royal title if we're in front of others?"

Peach rolled her eyes before her smile widened, "Of course, Lord Kiramman." She paused and tapped her chin thoughtfully, "Though, I trust you won't mind if I call you Oliver?"

Kiramman—Oliver, she amended mentally, looked stunned before nodding his head. The two walked into the palace, the young lord walking behind her. Peach sighed and bemoaned the protocols that dictated where and how she had to step. Still, it was a refreshing change of pace, she reasoned, to be in the company of someone who didn't necessarily object to following the protocols. The two entered a quaint dining room, and two staff members walked forward and pulled out the accompanying seats.

"Thank you, Gwen," she nodded to the female human staff member. "You as well, Oscar." She nodded to the toad, wearing a full suit.

Oliver nodded graciously as the plates were served and the wine poured. Peach took a bite of her veal marsala and sighed happily. Oliver had a forkful of his own meal in his mouth, and he chewed thoughtfully before looking around the room, "I must admit, I wasn't expecting a dinner with the Princess." He chuckled faintly.

"Surely it's not as intimidating as meeting His Majesty?" Peach smiled, "I should like to think I'm more approachable in any event."

"Most certainly." Oliver said, "It's just that in my travels abroad, I never got the privilege of dining with any other political officials." Oliver hummed thoughtfully, "My grandfather had insisted that I travel abroad, stating that the experience would be good for me."

"Oh? And what places have you been to?" Peach inquired, raising her eyebrows.

Oliver leaned slightly and began ticking off locations on his fingertips, "Well... I've visited the Kingdom of Ferros and the Emerald Republic, some of the more enjoyable places." He chuckled faintly, "The Waffle Kingdom was a bit more… tense than I'd have liked, but Minister Crepe was good company." He shrugged, "Still… it would've been nice to meet King Challah and Princess Éclair."

Peach smiled faintly, "You almost sound like you miss traveling, Oliver." She observed, "I suppose I can understand that. I haven't been outside the Mushroom Kingdom on my own." She shook her head slightly, "No… that's not right. I did go to Yoshi Island and then again when I traveled with Mario six months ago."

Oliver coughed into his napkin and looked up, eyes wide, "I had heard the rumors, but…"

"You didn't believe them?" Peach chuckled softly. "Well, it's not all too surprising, really. My caretaker did masquerade as me while I helped Mario."

"In many ways, I have envied the Mario Brothers." Oliver hummed. "It's always seemed like they had the benefits of traveling abroad whenever they wished. Not being a noble or a senator? I could get behind such a simple life." He chuckled faintly, "Of course… that traveling bit I mentioned? I'm aware that it was never for pleasure or anything like that…"

She had to smile at that; as far as any comments about Bowser's obsession with Peach went, Oliver's was remarkably more tactful than others she had heard. Peach sipped her wine, "It's funny… their last name is actually Segale." She pointed out.

Oliver blinked in surprise, "So… how did they get known as the 'Super Mario Brothers'?"

Peach grinned, "Well, it all started with their first landlord. He called them the Mario Brothers by mistake. I guess Mario had a sort of impact on the man, but the name just stuck. When they quit their construction job to start up their plumbing business, Luigi was the one who suggested the name Super Mario Brothers Plumbing for their business name."

Oliver nodded thoughtfully. "Admittedly, the name does have a good ring to it. Can't imagine them being called anything else, really."

"Super Segale Brothers Plumbing…" Peach said, trying out the name. She shook her head and frowned at how awkward it sounded, "I think you're right." She enjoyed Oliver's company, but would she be presuming too much by asking this next question? She set her fork down and looked at the young lord, "I have a small favor to ask, though, Lord Kiramman?"

Oliver seemed to straighten in his seat at the formality, "Yes, Princess?"

Peach's lips twitched slightly, "Well… I was invited to one of Lord Graemon's charity gala tomorrow evening." She began, "While you certainly are under no obligation to do so, I was wondering if you would be willing to accompany me as my guest? I would certainly feel better if I had a friendly face there that I knew."

Oliver seemed to consider her request momentarily before a small smile spread across his face, "I would be honored to do so." He said with a nod.

"Goddammit!" Belle exclaimed and slammed her hands down on the table. "How in the bloody hell are we supposed to do this?"

Belle looked up from the table and to the map on the wall. She was expecting a reprimand, but Vossak seemed unperturbed by her anger. He held his gaze to the map and thoughtfully tapped the corner of his desk. It was perhaps a small mercy that only Belle and Vossak were in the office aboard the Vigilant. Belle found her scowl darkening further still, was the damned kremling really taking amusement in her frustration?

Vossak only straightened his back, "Patience, Commander," he said calmly. Belle glanced to her side. Vossak was definitely enjoying this. The kremling stood up and stepped to the map, "Let's begin by reviewing what information we have. What do we know?"

"That he's got an unhealthy obsession with pasta…" Belle huffed out in frustration. "What good does that do us? There are over a hundred different pasta restaurants in Portobello alone!"

Vossak turned his glowing eyes to her, "You miss the bigger picture, Commander." He chided with a hint of a smile, "Certainly, his eating habits are good to know. But…" He pointed to a dot on the map, "We also know that he's from New Donk City. We simply need to trace our steps from here."

Sighing in exasperation, Belle questioned the Commodore's methods, "With all due respect, Commodore? This is probably a mission we should have declined." She sighed, "His Majesty expects us to make a silk purse from a pig's ear."

"I'm… sorry?" Vossak interjected with a tilt of his head, "What does that mean?"

She smiled despite herself; from their cadet days, she had served as an informal translator for Vossak and his language tutor. His grasp of the common tongue was certainly a lot better than what it had been when they first met, but certain idioms and the like still went over his head. She looked at him, "It means he's asking us to do the impossible, sir."

"Ah… yes, well, it would certainly be an impressive feat if we were to bring Mario to the capital without raising suspicions." Vossak agreed. "But… let us first reconstruct the past. From there… we can determine where to go."

Belle shook her head; this was pure madness, plain and simple. The fact that Emperor Bowser had explicitly asked them to retrieve Mario unsettled her. Retrieve, not capture. This wasn't like when they would spend time hunting down pirates or resolving territorial disputes within the Empire. This was trying to grasp a piranha plant from the bulb instead of the stem. The word "impossible" didn't even come close to scratching the surface.

Belle frowned as she looked at the map again, precisely where Vossak's scaled finger pointed. New Donk City… she reached for a file and thumbed through it. Immediately, she placed her index finger on the page in question, "We know that he was insane enough to take on a Kong who had captured a woman named Pauline Verducci…" She murmured and then moved to a computer terminal. "Just a second… ah! Here we go: Pauline Verducci was a famous prosecutor who became the current mayor of New Donk City. Are you suggesting we go to New Donk City?"

"Why not?" Vossak asked. "If Mario indeed garnered a reputation there, then it would make sense to travel there." He looked down at his own stack of documents, "Not only that, but we also know that he has only ever resided in New Donk City and in the Mushroom Kingdom's capital of Portobello."

Belle felt the corners of her mouth turn downward as she looked at the kremling, "Begging the Commodore's pardon, but what information are you expecting to find?"

"Anything," Vossak replied, his tone light. "And if we don't find our target, then we will simply travel to the Capital itself."

Belle's eyes widened as she stared incredulously, "You're bloody insane!" She growled, "How in the hell are we supposed to get into the Mushroom Kingdom's Capital without raising suspicion?"

The Commodore chuckled softly, "One step at a time, Commander." He stated, "First… what do we know about Mario? Other than his obsession with pasta, I mean."

Belle narrowed her eyes. For some strange reason, the word pasta tingled the back of her neck. She grabbed the folder and began thumbing through the file, frowning thoughtfully. Pasta… could it really be that simple? Her eyes widened, and a small smile spread across her face as she looked at the page she was searching for, "Bank statements…" She breathed out before turning to the computer again. Her fingers danced along the keyboard as images popped up on the screen. Her smile widened as she swiveled her monitor around, "Sir, take a look at this!"

Vossak turned his glowing eyes to the screen and leaned forward with interest, "So…" He smiled faintly. He plucked the page that Belle had pulled from the folder. "You determined where he normally frequented based purely on analyzing his bank statements?"

"Certainly, sir," She nodded, "What is worth noting is the frequency. In the past, he traveled to Luca's once every week. The most recent date was one month after the Invader's attack." She swiveled the monitor around again, "It seems that Mario does travel somewhat regularly to New Donk City. But this restaurant markets itself as the 'Favorite Restaurant of Super Mario,' I believe, sir… that we should start there once we arrive in the city."

"Excellent." Vossak nodded approvingly, "But now… how do you propose we proceed?"

Belle paused momentarily before trying to keep the smile off her face. This was a favorite sort of game that Vossak liked to pull. She then turned to her computer screen and frowned. Travel to Vista Hill took a full two weeks from the Capital. From Vista Hill… it would have been a matter of hours to enter New Donk City. Redirecting her focus to Vossak, the smile broke through her thoughts, "New Donk City is regarded as a tourist hub." She began, "So why don't we play into the role? It would draw the least amount of attention. Even traveling to Portobello as tourists wouldn't raise too many eyebrows."

Vossak's eyes glittered as he nodded, "Once again, Commander… excellent." He then looked at the map, "Now… we need only the cover identities…"

Note from the Author:

I struggled the most to strike the right tones between all three scenes. I struggled with Luigi not coming across as a jerk to Mario. I always liked the idea that Luigi may be somewhat envious of Mario's fame, and a popular fan theory around Super Mario Land is that you're not playing as Mario but rather as Luigi. In this case, I reversed the fame of Mario and Luigi in Sarasaland, with Luigi being famous and Mario being the second banana.

The trouble with Peach's scene was tapping down the interactions with Lord Graemon and Kiramman. Her interactions with Graemon aggravated me when I originally wrote them because they came across as a slimy politician trying to get his way, and that simply wasn't what I wanted to convey. The same with Lord Kiramman, I felt that having him as an antagonistic opposition to Graemon was also untenable because it set up something that I didn't see panning out. At least not as it initially was. The main point of the Peach segment was to show her in her element dealing with the stress of being the Crown Princess and the Prime Minister.

Belle's scene with Vossak initially seemed to be sheer dumb luck that they happened upon Mario's favorite restaurant, but honestly? I wanted to take a moment to showcase Belle's aptitude for finding out details for herself and hint at how Vossak's own aptitudes are complimented by Belle's.