Author Note: I probably had too much fun with this chapter, but I was actually making this up as I went. I had no plot for the Baroness of Song play yet, so I'm happy this turned out so good. (Still short though, at least I got the length right) We're coming up to the end soon, (since I was able to fit two bosses into chapter 7 [also, sorry for the last one being so long. I'll try not to do that again until the final face-off {that one was going to be the longest one, I already planned that out}])
The Baron actually started off as a quick doodle on my paper with Grape drawn onto it (she's so fun to draw aaaaaa-) but I liked the design and decided to make him a character. He's two-faced (and the Darkle version being so literally...), showing both love and hate for Peach and her band (hence the sudden changes in attitude towards the band throughout the chapter.) He doesn't care much for his band, showing more love to Grape's desires and wishes rather than his band's. (Shown mostly in The Dark Baron and the Parade of Frowns [AKA: the Darkle battle while saving the Baroness Sparkla]). He also has a weird rivalry with the Dark Baker, for some reason.
But yeah, enjoy the chapter, and my idea for the play.
The final play was a new one as well. Peach entered. A Theet welcomed her first thing, explaining that they were having a parade to celebrate. Peach followed her.
"You see, we hold this parade annually. But..."
The Sour Bunch was wrecking havoc on the parade float. One kicked a hole through the side of it.
"Hey, there's the Princess! What, come here to save the parade? Well it's too late now! The float is nothing! And the Sparkla for this place is gone too, so good luck trying to lead these fools!" They ran off, giggling hysterically.
The Theet faced Peach. "What do we do? He's right, we don't have our Baroness."
Peach used Sparkle on the float, which repaired it a little bit. She did two more twirls, and the float was repaired, but wouldn't move.
"We can make this float move with the power of song," the Theet explained. "But we don't have our Baroness. And now that I think about it, I have no idea where the rest of the band is! Care to help again?"
"Of course!"
They were scattered around, some being pestered by the Sour Bunch, and other were feeling unmotivated without the Baroness. Peach helped them all.
"Hey...with optimism like that, you could become out new Baroness! That is, until we find her again. What do you say?"
Peach and Stella nodded at each other. "Sure! I would love that!"
The Theet led her to the Sparkla's Sparkle. Once the transformation was complete, another Theet ran in.
"They're going to take the float! They have a Baron with them!"
"Oh no!" The first Theet gasped. "We can't let that happen! Come on, Baroness! Let's hurry!"
They made it to the float, which was hovering a foot off the ground. The Sour Bunch were taunting them from the float. Their leader was a tall puppet dressed like a Baron, with a baton in one hand.
He laughed. "This is your Baroness? She looks pretty untalented. Sorry, Theets, but we're taking this show. This parade is ours!" The float lifted higher. "Unless...you want to battle us for it. In any case, meet us at Rally Point. We'll discuss the float there. Ciao, little ones!"
"You heard him," the Theet said as the float lifted away. "We have to head to Rally Point. But we can't get up there without a float, so this seems pretty unfair."
"Why don't we build one with the power of music?" Peach suggested. "It'll be better than the one they stole. We'll be able to transfer the sound better too. What do you think? Could that work?"
"I don't see why not!"
Peach had to train the band a bit before she got the hang of it, and they left to build the float. They had a specific song for the construction. Following it exact earned Peach some Sparkle Gems as thanks. They all hopped onto the float, and it began to move.
They finally caught up with the Baron. "Hey, you!"
He looked at Peach. "Ah! I see you've returned! But we haven't even made the destination yet, so I don't suppose you could have waited a bit longer, hm?"
"We don't need the float anymore, we have one better," the tambourine Theet cried.
"Excellent! That means we can have full control then! Allow me to demonstrate the expanse of our power! Sour Bunch, follow my lead."
"Yessir!" They all prepared their instruments.
They began to play a spooky melody, which transformed the float into their image, with Grape's insignia on the back curtain. The Baron bowed when they finished.
"Now, show us your talent, Baroness. Unless...you have no talent? Oho, dear. That will put a damper on things, huh? Well, toodles, Baroness! We'll see you at Rally Point for claim of the Parade!" The float sped off as Peach's slowed to a stop.
"This isn't good," the drum Theet said. "He's going to beat us there."
"Give me minute," Peach said. "I'm going to find a special song."
"Special song?"
She nodded. "Yep. In the Baroness' room, I saw a paper explaining a secret song that's sure to get our show back. I'll need to get off here, but I'll be back soon."
"Alright. Stay safe, Baroness!"
She had to journey through the woods to find the pieces of the sheet music. She had to defend herself from a few Sour Bunch members, but a quick song dealt with them all. She grabbed the last sheet and headed back to the float.
They cheered when she returned unharmed, and she prepared the song. Playing it caused the float to soar through the skies at alarming speeds. They caught up to the Baron again in no time, just before he could make it to Rally Point.
He scowled. "You fools! You play nothing but a dance! But we play the Tragic Tunes of Madame Grape herself! The world needs no light, only sadness! Let us through!"
"No way," Peach said. "You end here, Baron! We'll out-play you any day!"
"We'll see, Baroness! Come, my band! Together, we will spread Madame Grape's vision for the future!"
He begun a small dance around the stage to hype up the band, and they began to play. The tune discouraged Peach's band, so she had to rally them up occasionally. They outshone the other band, and they stopped playing. Peach hyped them up for one last big part, and the other float was destroyed. The Baron fell to the ground.
"Ah, a star in the making. Such beauty from a sweet song..." He vanished.
"We did it!" The tambourine Theet cheered. "Great job, Baroness! We got the parade back! What do you say, wanna finish the route?"
"Of course! What kind of band would we be if we didn't finish the big number?" Peach smiled.
When they finished, Peach left with a smile. Not only was the band newly motivated, but she was too. She felt like she could do anything in the world, and that new motivation was going to help her fight against Grape.