Years ago, there was a woman, and a man. They met each other in the sea of stars. The man was an astronaut. The woman...well...we'll get to her someday.
During a mission to discover a new planet, the astronaut had time to meet his beloved. He loved his job, yes. Being an astronaut was for the good of all Earth. But there were other things, too, that he loved on his work. The rare oportunities to see his beloved. Tonight, however, was different. Very different.
Tonight...she had a baby.
"I...I am a father?" the man asked, shocked.
"Yes, dear. You are." smiled the woman.
The baby in her arms was giggling, apparently unbothered by the cold or vacuum of space. Like his mother, he could breath normally, and the temperatures didn't affect him either. However...
"Our little Rodrigo..." the woman smiled. "our Little Star. John, please...take care of him."
The man was even more shocked. "You know it's not that simple. I can't leave my job, and I can't leave our baby alone in an apartment. I wouldn't hire someone I don't know to take care of our son. Besides..where else can he be safer than with you?"
"Oh...I see why you'd think that. But despite him having inherited certain...traits from me...lack of air or cold temperatures are FAR from our concerns, considering he is immune to both." she said. "He could fall into a black hole. He could run into anti-matter. Many species out there would not mind hurting a child. Space has many dangers...I can't allow him to stay here, not until he is mature enough." she said.
"Well...I do have a sister on Earth. She is married, and has a son. I'm sure she'll help us take care of Rodrigo." John, the astronaut, replied, smiling, "And I'll always keep in touch with our son. Letters, video calls, and whenever I get a leave of absence of the work, I'll fly to him and spend some father son time."
The woman smiled. "Good, my love. And for my part, I'll always be near our child. I will not miss any of his moments, and I'll keep him safe." she said;
Some stardust fell into the baby from a nearby comet, making Rodrigo sneeze! The woman giggled.
"I also have something to give Rodrigo...keep it with you until he's older, John. And let him know it's a gift from his mother...and a promise from me that one day, we'll be together again..."
10 YEARS LATER
"Oww! Ouch! Oww! Come on, cuz! I DID tell you where I hid your cap!" Rodrigo whined.
"I told you I had enough of your pranks, cuz. How are we gonna ever make it to the Royal Court Tournament if you keep playing around?" Alex scolded, as he kept spanking Rodrigo.
Meet Rodrigo and Alex. Rodrigo has white skin, short brown hair, and brown eyes, while Alex's skin was dark in color, and he had short black hair and black eyes. They are family...cousins. But they are as close as brothers.
They keep each other in line during misbehavior, as we can see now. But they always forgive each other later!
Their families also are quite proud of their close bond, despite their diferences.
Rodrigo's father is an astronaut, so he is always away on work related trips. And Rodrigo never knew his mother. But, he wasn't forgotten by his parents.
His father, for example, was the one who talked with Rodrigo's aunt and uncle to allow Rodrigo to live with them, since he knew Rodrigo needed a stable house. This is why Rodrigo and Alex got so close-even being cousins, they share a room and live on the same house since forever!
Rodrigo's father always wants his son to not feel forgotten, though. He sends monthly letters and gifts to his son, as well as constant video calls, and whenever he gets a rare free time from his work, he flies all the way to his sister's house so that Rodrigo can have some father-son bonding time.
It's in one of these rare visits that he gave Rodrigo a star shaped pendant. He said it's a gift from Rodrigo's mother, as she would want him to have it. It is a promise from her that one day they'll meet. Rodrigo never took the pendant off since, dreaming with the day he'd finally meet his mother.
Rodrigo likes joking, and is usually always in a good mood! But...he is also quite a prankster, which often gets him in trouble with Alex.
Alex, on the other hand, is more disciplined and serious, but sometimes needs to loosen up, which is where Rodrigo comes in.
As he was spanked, Rodrigo gasped as he noticed the clock. "Oww! Ouch! H-hey, Alex, oww! Cut it out! Ya gotta stop spanking my bum bum!" he whined.
"Nice try, cuz, but that naughty bum is getting spanked until I'm sure you learned your lesson." Alex firmly said.
"OWW! N-no, you don't, ouch! Get it, Alex! You LITERALLY gotta stop, or we'll miss Super Mario and Princess Peach's match!" Rodrigo whined, pointing to the clock.
Alex looked at it, and blinked! "O-oh man, you're right! Alright, cuz, I'll let you off easy this time, but behave! Is our popcorn ready?"
"ALWAYS!" Rodrigo said, smirking as he covered his bottom, "Go get the channel ready!"
"Way ahead of ya, cuz!" Alex smirked, as he turned their tv on.
Soon, the cousins were eating popcorn, as they saw Super Mario and Princess Peach enter the court, tennis rackets at the ready, as they faced the infamous Wario Brothers!
Rodrigo and Alex, Tennis fanatics, smiled and cheered as they saw their idols on a match.
Wario and Waluigi's cheating tactics did little to help them. Peach's graceful style kept them in their toes, making openings for Mario's powerful strikes. Eventually, Mario's racket hit the ball so hard, it became a fireball, sending Wario's racket flying!
That is not a cheating manouver, for Mario didn't use outside items or Power-Ups, but rather a technique he developed during his years of training.
"One day I'll do something similar, Alex." smirked Rodrigo, "My serves are REALLY strong! I'll be as tough as Super Mario."
"Oh, I'll bet, cuz. But remember, too much focus on power makes it hard to move around the court!" Alex noted. "I'll become fast and graceful like Princess Peach, using speed to cover any weaknesses your ultra offense leaves us!"
Rodrigo and his cousin Alex's dreams were to become one day the strongest Doubles parters in tennis, defeating their idols in a match.
Their idols: The Greatest Tennis Player Of All Time, Super Mario, and his graceful partner, Princess Peach!
Little did they know, today, their lifes would change...
The smell of lava filled his nose. It was a familiar smell to Luigi.
He slowly gulped, as he entered the dark hall. Statues of Bowser in dark ebon filled the room, as well as marble, white statues of Princess Peach, that felt out of place in this lava filled room. In many pedestals, Tennis trophies, an even more unusual sight.
But there was no Mario to be found. This was something Luigi had to do himself.
The younger of the Mario Brothers nervously shook, as the boss was about to be before him. After reaching the end of the hall, Luigi jumped in fear, at a terrifying ROAR...
...As Luigi looked at an oversized desk, where a sunglasses wearing Bowser was slumped over, looking at some papers! "GREEN STACHE! Didn't I order you NOT to bother me?! I'M BUSY!"
Luigi flinched as Bowser slammed on his desk. That was the Koopa King, formerly (and some say, secretely still) Mario's archnemesis, and currently the Headmaster of the Royal Tennis Academy, the most prestigious academy in all of Mushroom Kingdom!
A bit of context of what happened a while ago:
Peach had founded it to foster the career of the next generation of players. Due to their status of legendary players, however, Peach and Mario couldn't be there all the time, so Mushroom Kingdom's princess needed a headmaster.
Needless to say, after kidnapping her so often didn't make Peach any more inclined to see his love for her, Bowser saw there an opportunity to impress Peach!
"Bwahahaha! Good thing I got here on time!" Bowser had laughed.
"Bowser...!" Peach gasped, while Mario jumped in front of Peach to protect her!
"You-a never give up, huh, Bowser?!" Mario demanded.
"Bwahaha, easy, plumber! You won! I'm retiring from my Peachnapping business!" Bowser laughed.
Mario blinked! "Huh? Wha?"
Peach was just as surprised. "You...aren't going to try and kidnap me anymore...?" she asked.
"That's right, my princess. Ol' Bowser is on the straight and narrow from now on!" Bowser promised, both hands in front of him.
Mario...could be excused for being a bit skeptical. "Then you-a came here just to tell us that?" he asked, cautiously.
"Well, I heard ya wanted a Headmaster for the Royal Tennis Academy ya founded. Well, I'm happy to inform that your problems are officially over, Headmaster Bowser in the house!" Bowser smirked!
"W-w-wait, WHAT?!" Mario and Peach exclaimed!
"Yeah, Peachy, ya don't worry your pretty little head a bit. I got experience with kids..." Bowser smirked.
"Bowser, you-a SENT YOUR KIDS TO KIDNAP Peach and fight me lots of times!" Mario sweatdropped.
"Oh, don't sweat the details, plumber boy. Besides my experience with kids, I am no slouch at Tennis, if you'll remember! Plus, as a King, I got money to spare, specially if we join...funds, I mean join FUNDS into making it the grandest academy of all times! Peachy here enters with 50% of whatever coins she intended to put on the academy she was founding, and I join in with the remaining 50%. "Royal Tennis Academy: With Discipline, Comes Victory!" How good does THAT sound?! With the most legendary Tennis Princess.."
Bowser then coughed, remembering he had to play nice with Mario too if he wanted to impress Peach!
"I mean, the most legendary Tennis Doubles Team, the graceful Princess Peach and the...ugh..the Greatest Player Of All Time...sponsoring the Academy, we'll turn the next young talent generation from chumps to champs! Trust me, I lead a whole army! It's what I do!" he finished.
"Oh, dear...I don't know if that is a good idea, Bowser. I am all for second chances, but parents and caretakers around the Mushroom Kingdom might not exactly see things that way..." Peach mused.
"Specially since your-a reputation preceeds you, and not in a good way. You-a don't think you might scare off people AWAY from the academy?" Mario pointed out.
"Ah-hah! I knew you'd think that! Well lucky us, I already got us covered!" Bowser said.
"You have...?" Peach cautiously asked.
"First up, having THE Super Mario and Princess Peach vouch for me will make everyone's troubles pop like bubbles!" Bowser noted.
"That's a good point, Bowser, but you didn't-a show us any reason for us to believe this isn't a plan to nab Peach when we drop our guards, so why would we vouch for you?" Mario noted.
"Bwahaha, and here comes the next two steps: The first two people I intend to hire to MY rule as Headmaster in the academy, aside from my lesser minions to keep the campus clean and taken care of, naturally? Daisy and Luigi!" Bowser said, smirking!
Now THAT shocked Peach and Mario! Daisy was Peach's sister, and Luigi was Mario's brother, after all! Plus, there was the infamous "Daisy's Bowser Slap" incident, that made Peach and Mario even more shocked Bowser would keep HER around!
"I see my surprise pleased ya! So here's a even better surprise, I'm hiring Daisy as the first coach of the academy, yeah...but as for Luigi? He's gonna be my Vice-Headmaster!" Bowser said, smirking.
NOW Peach and Mario were smiling. They didn't put anyone to keep an eye on Bowser, Bowser offered to do it himself! Maybe he IS changing!
"Hey, Peach, I think we can-a give Bowser a chance, don't you? He DOES seem sincere." Mario told Peach.
"I agree, Mario. That is a royally good idea." Peach nodded, smiling. "Bowser, I would highly appreciate if you became the Headmaster of Royal Tennis Academy."
Bowser laughed, shaking the smiling Mario and Peach's hand! "Thanks! Ya won't regret it, believe me!"
Of course, inside, he was thinking, (Laugh it up, plumber. No kidnapping this time, I'll just impress Peach so much, she'll fall head over heels for me of her own free will, and then dump you for a REAL man!)
"B-but Headmaster, it's urgent! You have a visitor..." Luigi nervously told Bowser.
"SO?! We have schedules for a reason, Green Stache! If I go listen to every loser who walks in unanounced, my reputation around the academy would be RUINED! I have an image to keep, you know! Sides, you are the Vice-Headmaster, right? Go attend to that idiot and let me finish my work! Run along, now!" Bowser huffed, waving Luigi goodbye.
Luigi sighed. "W-well, I-I can try, but she'll be so disappointed. I mean, she wanted to talk to you specifically..."
"She...?" Bowser asked, looking up from his papers.
"Yes, the Princess. She wanted to-" Luigi began, only to jump at a even BIGGER slam from Bowser on the desk!
"WHY DIDN'T YOU START BY TELLING ME IT WAS PEACH, YOU IDIOT?! Come on, send her to my office PRONTO!" Bowser ordered.
"Y-yes, Headmaster! R-Right away!" Luigi said, running outside the office!
Peach was wearing her dress with the short skirt, knowing how Bowser's office was filled with lava, in other words...too hot for the long dress!
"Hello, Bowser. I'm always impressed how you made your office so similar to your castles." Peach noted, with a polite smile.
"Oh, hi there, Peachy! No, no, allow me!" Bowser said, pulling a chair to her.
"Oh my...that is quite polite. Thanks, I do appreciate it." Peach smiled, sitting down.
(Bowser, big guy, that's another point with Peachy! Hm. I can already hear the wedding bell sounds...) Bowser thought, smirking, as he went back to his throne on the other side of the desk. "So, princess...what do you think of my academy so far?" he asked, hopeful.
"I had a look around. I am impressed, you seemed to attract quite a few students so far. So many different cultures are represented here." Peach mused.
"Bwahahaha, you betcha! Toads, Yoshies, Koopa, Kongs, you name it, we got it. Some of the newest talent in the Tennis World will come from here. The next Royal Court Tournament is as good as ours!"
The Royal Court Tournament is the biggest tennis tournament in the Mushroom Kingdom, Every academy in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond send their best students.
In fact, seasoned players such as Bowser, or the Wario Brothers, Daisy, DK, and so on sometimes take part as seeded players, being some of the hardest hurdles to overcome. And the winning players, either Singles or Doubles, get quite a reward...a shot at the Greatest Tennist Of All Time, Super Mario! And at Princess Peach, in case of Doubles.
"Well, I think you are on the right track. And I'm mostly pleased with your staff here, Bowser." Peach noted.
"Mostly? Don't be shy, Peachy! Tell me what's wrong, and I'll correct it like one, two, three! Someone I gotta fire?" Bowser asked.
"No, no. There's no need to be drastic!" giggled Peach, but then added, "First, Yoshi on the kitchen?"
"Yeah, I see what you mean, but Yoshi is an AWESOME cook. Trust me, I had the chance to taste the guy's food...it's amazing!" Bowser noted.
"I...never knew that!" Peach gasped, "But, won't Yoshi eat the food he makes before the students can eat?" Peach asked.
"No worries. Coach Birdo and him have a thing goin' on, so I have her keep an eye on Yoshi. Trust me, she can get him to do his job...most times. The students have fun, too." Bowser chuckled.
"Oh my!" giggled Peach. "So that's okay. I'm also a tad concerned with Wario and Waluigi working here, though. These mischievous ruffians aren't the type I'd like teaching at the Royal Tennis Academy. Specially Wario and his...disgusting habits."
Bowser coughed! These two are bumbling fools at times, but they are also important goons to carry his..."plans of interest!"
"I know you don't like them very much, Peachy, but trust me, I had a reason to hire these guys. They each have double duty here!" Bowser explained.
"Double duty...?" Peach asked.
"Oh, yeah. See, Wario, with his super strenght, is our Serve coach, and Waluigi, with his tricky moves, is our Volley coach, basic coach for students who want to train the basics. But, Wario is also the head of security. Ya know, his ugly face, super strenght, guy is perfect to keep guys who gotta be outta the academy out of it!" Bowser quickly explained. "And with his smarts and sneakyness, Waluigi make sure the students are all on their dorms when it's nightime, curfew is with him!"
"...Hm. I see. That DOES make sense...still, if they teach the students wrong, I'd like to be informed, Bowser." Peach gently, yet firmly said.
"Promise! With my Paratroopas, Shy Guys, and Boos keeping the academy clean and in shape, Wario and Waluigi won't cause trouble without ME knowing!" Bowser promised.
"That makes me more relieved." Peach said, not noticing Bowser sighing on relief!
"Anyway, we also have lots of different coachs and staff here. Enough to cover all the basics, and then the main ones to cover all classes. Trust me, the students have anythig they need to here." Bowser said.
"Hm, that's good. Anyway, Bowser, another reason I came here was because Mario and I intend to bring two new students here...well, if they want to join that is." Peach said.
"Two new students? But it's midterms." Bowser said, confused. "It isn't common to take students while the year had already started, right?"
Peach smiled. "I know. That's how much we trust them." she said, giving Bowser the boys's profiles.
"Alex and Rodrigo...first place in the Doubles Regionals...not a shabby job in singles, either...and...MAN is that quite a few tournaments listed on these profiles." Bowser said, whistling!
"Exactly. I do believe that Royal Tennis Academy could make them into some of the best ever. Mario and I have a feeling about these cousins...they might just be the ones to become our sucessors one day." Peach smile.
(What? I was hoping my kids Junior and Larry would be the best in the academy! But with these two around...ugh...but on the other hand, these kids ARE good, and Royal Tennis Academy is sure to have it's reputation SOAR if we get them onboard...but it's not like I can say no to PEACH!) Bowser thought, nervously fiddling with the tie on his neck!
"Bowser, is something wrong?" Peach asked, worried.
"O-oh, no, Peachy, not at all! I was just wondering if we aren't putting too much pressure on Rodrigo and Alex..." he nervously tried.
"I see your concern, but, if you have a spot for them, Mario and I are going to recruit the boys personally. This way, we can have a look at them and see if they can handle the pressure." Peach suggested.
"Well...sure, Peachy, ya know Royal Tennis Acdemy ALWAYS has spots open." Bowser said.
Peach smiled. "Thank you, Bowser! I'll inform Mario." she said, getting up. "I'll see you later."
"Don't be a stranger, Peachy! I'll have Kamek give you and Mario a teleportation home, it's faster than the Warp Pipes." Bowser noted.
"Thanks, Bowser. I am so happy you turned your life around." Peach smiled, as she left.
As Peach left, Bowser yelled, "GREEN STACHE! GET WARIO AND WALUIGI HERE, PRONTO!"
(What mischief you're going to order them to do now? Mamma mia, this is gonna be one of these days...) Luigi thought, sighing, as he sent a Paratroopa to go get the Wario Brothers...
THREE HOURS LATER, BACK AT RODRIGO AND ALEX'S HOUSE
"Oww! Owwie! Ouch! A-Alex, didn't you say you were gonna lemme off easy?!" Rodrigo whined, yelping.
"That's when you only had hidden my cap! Glitter in my racket, really?" Alex scolded, alternating cheeks.
"Owwie, ouch, oww, aww, Alex, no need to be so-ouch! Serious all the time!" Rodrigo yelped.
"Well, no need for you to be a prankster, cuz-" Alex said, raising his hand, until-
RIIIIIIING!
"Rodrigo, Alex! Y...you have visitors!" Alex's mother called from downstairs.
"...Oh, what now?" groaned Alex.
"I-I dunno, cuz, but maybe we should check it out!" Rodrigo quickly said.
"You just want to get away from your spanking, right?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah. But it's still rude to keep people waiting outside." said Rodrigo, with a mischievous grin.
Alex sighed, "Yep, cuz, it sure is..." he said...landing a huge SPANK to the center of his bum bum!
"OWWW! Alex, why?!" pouted Rodrigo.
"Just in case we can't finish our talk today, cuz. Which is quite likely, considering this is the second spanking that you got lucky to have interrupted in one day, I'm sure the Star Spirits just don't feel like letting you be spanked today." said Alex, smirking softly as he patted Rodrigo's back in a friendly manner.
Rodrigo pouted, but sighed. "Yeah, I guess ya DO have a point, cuz..."
"I usually have them. I'm the serious one here, aren't I?" Alex asked, smiling. "Come on, cuz, get up and let's see who our visitor is."
On the living room, Mario and Peach sat down, as they waited for the cousins to come down.
"It's an honor to have the Tennis Legends here." Alex's father said. "I still remember the time where Princess Peach sent a lob to her own side of the course, to surprise Bowser and Boo long enough for Super Mario to jump high and smash the ball into their court!"
"Dear, don't sound like a fanboy, you'll embarrass them." Alex's mother chided, smiling. "Besides, they already will have to deal with Rodrigo and Alex, who are even bigger fanboys!" she joked.
This made Mario chuckle and Peach giggle!
"That's alright. They'll jump with the surprise we brought them!" Mario smiled. "We came to recruit them to Royal Tennis Academy."
"And," Peach added, "We also, with your permission, wish to become Rodrigo and Alex's mentors, helping them develop their tennis skills at least three days per week. This would, however, include..."
Peach then sighed, and raised her hand, in a way the parents knew well!
"...Traditional discipline from me if they misbehave." Peach noted. "But of course, only with your permission."
"Well, Rodrigo and Alex are responsible enough to do this themselves, but I wouldn't have objections with a mentor also overseeing discipline if they are okay with it." Alex's mother noted.
"But, if we may ask, how did the two greatest legends in tennis history take an interest in our boys?" Alex's father asked, smiling.
"A friend of ours said we should check out a match of two boys who were all the rage on the child division lately. She said that with the right training, they might even surpass Peach and I as the next duo of legend." Mario said, surprising the two!
Peach nodded. "So we went to their last tournament, on secret. I must say, Rodrigo reminded me a lot of Mario's style, and Alex of mine. Alex is quick and gracious in the court, Rodrigo has strong and powerful serves and strokes."
"Which is why I'll train Alex and Peach'll take Rodrigo!" Mario noted.
At the parents's confusion, Mario explained, "Now that we know their strong points, we want to work on their weak points. Alex has Peach's strong points, and Rodrigo has mine. So we intend to complete their training with what they miss currently, so that they'll be great all around tennis players!"
"If they want to surpass us one day," Peach nodded, lightly, "Then they'll need to become better than us in all aspects of the game. Which means they'll need to eventually have our strong points while not having our weaknesses."
Alex's parents smiled at the legends wanting to take such good care of their career, and the smiles increased as the foursome noticed Rodrigo and Alex's steps!
"SUPER MARIO AND PRINCESS PEACH?!" Rodrigo and Alex gasped!
"Hello there, dears!" Peach smiled. "Rodrigo and Alex, correct?"
"Y-you know us?" Alex asked.
"We sure do! We have been watching you two on your tournaments debuts." Mario smiled, approaching. "And we came here for-"
But at this time, Mario stepped on a tennis ball, falling flat on his face!
"OWWW! Mamma miaaaaa..." he said, dizzy.
"Oh my, Mario!" gasped Peach!
"O-oh! Mr Mario, I'll help you!" Alex's father said.
"How did this tennis ball get here?!" Alex's mom wondered.
Alex, however, glared at his cousin!
"RODRIGO! Pranking even SUPER MARIO of all people?!" he scolded.
"I didn't prank! I just...forgot to get my tennis ball." Rodrigo blushed, embarrassed!
"Well, that will NOT do." Peach sighed, looking at Alex's mother.
The mother sighed and nodded in approval, so Peach took Rodrigo upstairs. "Come, dear, show me your room. We need to have a talk about the consquences of carelessness." Peach said!
Rodrigo gasped, "P-Princess, will you..."
"Yes, I will give your bum bum a Royal Spanking." Peach firmly said. "And yes, it WILL sting."
Rodrigo's eyes widened, and he began to apologize, "But, I didn't mean to!"
"I know you didn't, darling. But sometimes, good intentions lead to bad outcomes. It's important to be more careful." Peach said, her voice stern but caring.
Alex watched with wide eyes as Peach took his cousin away, still shocked by the sudden turn of events.
"M-Mom, Dad, is she really going to spank Rodrigo?" he stuttered.
Mario looked up, still a bit wobbly from the fall. "Ah, yes, she is. Peach has a way with discipline, it's one of her many charms."
Alex's mother chuckled, "Well, if it's alright with you, I guess it's okay. He does need to learn not to leave his toys lying around."
"But she's a princess!" Alex exclaimed.
Mario chuckled, "And she's also Rodrigo's new tennis coach. And she's quite firm with it, believe me."
Alex nodded, though his mind was racing. He knew Rodrigo was in for it now.
"Well, I suppose we should talk more about this Royal Tennis Academy," Alex's father said, eager to shift the topic.
Mario sat up, brushing himself off. "Indeed, it's a wonderful place for young athletes to grow and learn. And with Peach and I as your mentors, we'll make sure you both get the best training possible."
Alex couldn't believe his luck. He had always dreamed of training under the legendary duo, but now it was happening right before his eyes. Meanwhile, his cousin Rodrigo's face turned a deep shade of red as he was led away for his impromptu discipline session. The adults in the room exchanged knowing glances as they discussed the opportunities that lay ahead for the boys.
The sound of a door closing upstairs was followed by the faint sound of Peach's calm but firm voice, and Rodrigo's muffled protests.
Inside Rodrigo's room, Peach began to explain the importance of respect and safety. "Rodrigo, you know your cuz Alex is quite serious, right?"
"Yeah..." Rodrigo mumbled, his cheeks red from both embarrassment and anticipation.
"Well, when you're playing pranks, especially around important guests, you could cause serious harm." Peach said, her voice firm but not unkind. "So, we're going to have to have a little talk, and then a little...discipline."
Rodrigo swallowed hard, knowing what was coming. He had been spanked before, but not by someone as important as Peach.
"P-Princess, please," Rodrigo whined, "I didn't mean to prank Mario. I would NEVER prank the Greatest Tennis Player of All Time! I...I...I just forgot to pick up my tennis ball. Mario was unlucky to step on it, I didn't set him up. I give my word!"
Peach looked at him, her eyes stern, "Rodrigo, it's not just about Mario. It's about the safety and respect of everyone around you. Now, I know you're a good boy, but good boys still make mistakes and need to be corrected, so they don't make them again."
Rodrigo bit his lower lip, his eyes welling up with tears. He knew he was in for it now. Peach took a deep breath as she sat down in the bed, "Alright, young man, bend over my knee."
He swallowed, his heart racing. He had never been spanked by anyone else except Alex, and the thought of a princess doing it, let alone the legendary Princess Peach was...embarrassing!
Slowly, with trembling legs, he made his way to Peach's knee, his heart hammering in his chest. He felt his face grow hot with embarrassment, as he laid over her knee, his hands instinctively going to cover his bum bum.
"Rodrigo," Peach said, her voice gentle but firm, "Please move your hands, darling. We need to get this over with."
Rodrigo's eyes watered up as he did as told. He was just a kid, a ten year old kid being spanked by his hero's wife, and he felt like the worst kind of failure.
Peach took a moment to pat his back reassuringly, "Now, this will sting, but remember, it's for your own good. And it'll be over soon."
With that, she raised her hand and brought it down with a firm SMACK on his bare bottom. Rodrigo yelped, the sting surprising him with its intensity.
"OWW!" he shouted, his eyes watering more. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll be more careful!"
Peach didn't stop, her hand rising and falling in a steady rhythm, each smack echoing in the room. Rodrigo kicked his legs and squirmed, but Peach's grip was firm.
"Remember, young man, pranks are only fun if everyone is safe." Peach said, her hand landing with a CRACK on his bottom, making him yelp even louder.
"OWWW! Yes, Princess!" Rodrigo whined! "B-but-OWW!"
Peach had given him another slap. "And even when you DIDN'T mean to prank, Rodrigo, you need to be more careful. The same way Mario tripped here, he could have fallen from a balcony, or rolled down the stairs! You can't let your things everywere, dear."
More loud spanks, making Rodrigo yelp hard. "Y-yes, Princess!"
"Remember, young man," Peach said, alternating cheeks, "A clean house is a happy house. A messy house can put others in danger. Not to mention, being a good tennis player requires discipline, and focus. You won't want a reputation of being a messy boy, now will you?"
Ten more hard spanks fell, and Rodrigo began tearing up.. "No! No, I wouldn't, Princess Peeeeacccchhh..." he said, starting to sob.
Peach paused for a moment, stroking his back gently. "I know you're sorry, Rodrigo. Now, let's make sure you remember this lesson, shall we?"
Her hand descended again, this time with a bit more force. Rodrigo's bottom was red and stinging, but he knew he had to take it. He had let his hero down, and he didn't want to let his new mentor down either.
The sound of Rodrigo's spanking echoed faintly through the walls, a stark contrast to the excitement and anticipation bubbling in Alex's chest. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety for his cousin, knowing that Peach's firm approach to discipline was no joke. But he also knew that Rodrigo needed guidance to keep his pranking ways in check in the future, or to keep his laziness about his toys and tennis belongings under control.
Alex's mother cleared her throat, bringing everyone's attention back to the matter at hand. "Now, about the academy, what can you tell us?" she inquired.
Mario leaned forward in his chair, his eyes gleaming with enthusiasm. "The Royal Tennis Academy is the most prestigious institution in the Mushroom Kingdom. We've assembled a team of the finest coaches, including your very own Bowser, who's turned over a new leaf as the headmaster."
Alex's eyes widened. "Bowser?!"
Mario nodded. "It's true. He's been surprisingly good with the kids, and the academy's security is top-notch. Besides," Mario added, chuckling, "With Daisy as the head coach, he's got more than enough motivation to keep his temper in check."
The room filled with laughter, but Alex couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine. He had heard stories about Daisy's infamous slaps, and he didn't want to be on the receiving end of one.
The spanking went on, and on, until Rodrigo was bawling his eyes out, his bottom a bright red. Peach's hand never faltered, though her eyes were filled with a mix of sternness and care.
Finally, she stopped, her hand resting gently on his warm bottom. After the last spank, Peach helped him up and held him close. "Alright, that's enough, I think you've learned your lesson."
Rodrigo's breath hitched in his throat, his eyes blurry with tears. He had never felt so small, so embarrassed. He had never felt so...so corrected.
He nodded, his voice muffled by the bed, "Yes, I've learned, I promise."
"Shh, it's okay, it's all over now." she cooed, stroking his hair.
Peach helped him up, holding him in a warm hug. "Good boy. Now, let's get some aftercare for that poor bottom, shall we?"
He nodded, still sniffling, as she turned him back over her knee. Removing a glove, Peach produced a green bottle, with an 1-UP Mushroom drawing on it.
"Essence of 1-Up Shroom." giggled Peach, as she explained, "Great for hurts, bruises, or spanked bum bums."
Rodrigo blushed, but giggled. "T-thanks, Princess...he said."
"You're welcome, dear. Call me Peach, though." she gently noted, "After all, I'm going to be your mentor."
"I still can't believe Alex and I are going to be mentored by our idols..." Rodrigo admitted, the coolness of the cream against his sore skin was surprisingly soothing. "Do you and Mario teach classes in the academy?"
"Not really, though we DO occasionally visit it." Peach explained, "As legendary players, Mario and I have many responsibilities, which prevents us from having a permanent teaching spot on the academy. But," she said, smiling, "My steward Toadsworth is rather gifted on setting our schedules. In fact, before coming here, Mario and I decided that you boys will only sleep in the academy from monday to Thursday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you'll be moving to the castle so that Mario can work on mentoring Alex, and I can work on mentoring you."
"T-THE Peach's Castle?!" Rodrigo gasped, his sobs finally lowering.
Peach giggled, "Yes, my home and Mario's. We finally settled down." she told Rodrigo.
Afterwards, she held him close again, whispering sweet nothings into his ear, until his sobs turned to sniffles.
"Remember, Rodrigo, I believe in you. I know you can be the best tennis player ever, but you must be careful, okay?" she said, her voice soft.
"Yes, I'll be more careful." he whispered, hiccupping.
Peach then took him back to the living room, his bottom still smarting. He sat down carefully, wincing a bit.
Rodrigo sniffled, feeling both relief and a weird sense of comfort in her embrace. "I-I'm sorry, P-Princess Peach..." he whispered.
"I know you are, darling. And that's what's important." Peach said, her voice soothing. "Now, let's go downstairs and tell Alex and your aunt and uncle you've learned your lesson, shall we?"
With a nod, Rodrigo wiped his eyes and followed Peach out of the room, his bottom still sore but his mind clear. He knew he had to do better, not just for Alex and his family, but for himself and his dreams of becoming a great tennis player.
As they descended the stairs, the sound of laughter and cheerful conversation grew louder. Alex was telling Mario and his parents about the time he had accidentally spanked Rodrigo with a tennis racket. Usually Alex was far too serious to do that, but Mario, hearing about his excessive seriousness, invited Alex to share a fun story with them, after Mario had shared some of his!
"...and he was so shocked, he just stood there with his hand on his butt, staring at me!" Alex said, chuckling.
Mario and Alex's parents were laughing, but when they saw Peach and Rodrigo, they fell silent. The seriousness on Peach's face told them that something had happened upstairs.
Alex couldn't help looking at his cousin's red, tear-stained face. "Is...is everything okay, Rodrigo?"
Rodrigo looked down, his cheeks burning with embarrassment. "I...I'm okay, Alex. I just...I learned my lesson about being careful."
Alex nodded, understanding in his eyes. He knew what that meant.
Peach addressed the room. "Rodrigo and I had a little talk upstairs, and he's agreed to be more careful in the future. And as his mentor, I'll be keeping a close eye on his behavior. Now, shall we discuss your training regimen?"
The parents nodded, eager to hear about their sons' futures.
As the adults talked, Alex pulled Rodrigo aside. "You okay, cuz?" he whispered.
Rodrigo sniffled, "Yeah. I'm just...I'm just gonna be more careful from now on. I don't want to mess up again."
Alex ruffled his hair. "You'll be fine. And hey, at least you got spanked by the coolest person ever, right?"
Rodrigo managed a small smile through his tears. "Yeah, I guess so."
They both knew that this was just the beginning of their journey. With the help of their legendary mentors, they would face challenges and grow, both on and off the tennis court.
But for now, they had cookies and milk to look forward to, and the promise of a new adventure together.
The end of the spanking marked the start of something much greater.
Soon, it was bedtime. As Rodrigo and Alex got into their pajamas and brushed their teeth, they were talking to each other about the day's events.
"Our Headmaster is gonna be Bowser?!" Rodrigo gasped.
"Yeah, I had the same reaction, cuz. But Mario says he turned a new leaf, and if Mario of all people says so, it must be true." Alex shrugged. "Still, that's WILD, isn't? I mean, we were watching Super Mario and Princess Peach's game just today, and now we'll be mentored by our idols!"
Rodrigo nodded. "No kidding. I...I'm happy to be Princess Peach's mentee, though."
Alex frowned, as he gently put an arm on Rodrigo's shoulder. He knows what's going on...his cousin is on that mood again, of wanting to meet his mother.
Rodrigo is kinda a prankster, but he seems to be particulary close to motherly figures, perhaps because, even with his aunt taking care of him, Rodrigo still wants to meet the mother that he KNOWS will come back for him one day.
"Hey, cuz, it's okay. Maybe your mom will show up sooner than we think." Alex whispered.
"W-why do ya think so, cuz...?" Rodrigo softly asked.
"Well, think about it; Royal Tennis Academy is the most prestigious academy in the whole Mushroom Kingdom, so it gets a lot of attention. AND, aside from all the staff there to help us developed, we are also gonna be mentored by the greatest tennis players ever, so if we put in the work, we are SURE to be able to join this year's Royal Court Tournament!" Alex smirked, "Which means, we'll be on tvs in the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. Know what that means, cuz?"
Rodrigo's eyes widened! "My...my mommy...she'll probably see me!"
"Exactly! And then she'll know exactly where to find you. So, all we gotta do is work hard, and aside from finding your mom, we'll also fulfill our dream of beating Super Mario and Princess Peach while at it! They DID say they hope to train us to one day surpass them, after all, right?" Alex smiled.
"Yeah, you're right! Thanks, cuz. I feel WAY better now!" Rodrigo said.
"It's okay, cuz. Now let's go to bed. We're gonna have a big day tomorrow on the Royal Tennis Academy!" Alex smiled.
The boys gave a nightly prayer to the Star Spirits, and then went to bed...
...That night, a woman appeared out of nowhere in the room, sitting on Rodrigo's bed, as she gently passed her hand into the sleeping boy's hair. She then began whispering a soft lullaby to Rodrigo...
"The depths of space might be far, but I'll always be near you, my Little Star. Always close by, always with you, on the bad times, and the good times too. When you fall down, I'll help you get up...on your greatest marks, by your side I'll be! Always with you, my Little Star, I will never be far. You might be sad now...and trust me, so an I. But the right time is coming, we'll be together soon. My Little Star, be patient, for space waits for you. So please don't cry, my Little Star. Soon we will never again be far..."
The sleeping Rodrigo smiled a bit on his sleep, as if the lullaby and and mysterious woman's presence had a comforting effect on him. This made the woman give him a soft smile.
She kissed the boy's forehead, and whispered, "Soon, my Little Star. Soon..." before she vanished from the room, as mysteriously as she appeared...