Tales from the Mushroom Kingdom

[Panique]

Introduction

Mario bit his lip nervously and straightened his red-checkered tie.
‘As if meeting the parents isn’t hard enough,’ he thought, ‘But my girlfriend’s parents happen to be royal!’ Just as the 15 year old checked hie tie one more time, his girlfriend, Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom (or simply just ‘Peach’ as she preferred) flounced down the marble steps. She was wearing an elegant pink gown, studded with what Mario didn’t doubt were real diamonds that flickered in the late afternoon sun. She flashed him a smile and giggled, nervous also.
“Come on Mario, Mummy and Daddy are waiting for you” she said in a soft, sweet voice. Peach held a hidden talent to change her tone of voice to suit the situation. The dewy, sweet voice she was using at the moment signified either genuine care or happiness, or a way to bias the situation in her favour. Personally, Mario preferred to believe the former.

Stepping inside the marvellously decorated house, Mario couldn’t help but feel a stab of envy. His own house, a small wood hut on the edge of the town, seemed miniscule to this, well, palace. He took in all the exquisite paintings and towering sculptures (some more daring than others!). Peach took his hand and led him to what she called ‘The meeting room’. Mario couldn’t help but feel like a criminal as he took his place on the cream suede couch.

“What’s your name, son?” Asked the constable in an irritable voice. He mopped his head with a damp handkerchief and stuffed it back into his pocket.
“M-Mario” stuttered the young man nervously, his eyes darting back and forth.
“So, Mario, is it? Decided you’d ask Princess Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom on a date, would ya? So, buddy, what was it you’re interested in, may I enquire? Fame? Fortune? Or just a confused girl to take advantage of?” He paused, and took a ragged breath. Mario’s eyes fastened on a small light above his head. It was bare, and seemed lonely.
“ANSWER ME BOY!!” shouted the constable. Mario jumped and clapped his hands to the table, the way a mouse might do before he fell dinner to a hungry lion.

“So, Mario, is it?” the balding man was stout and podgy, but didn’t seem interested in proving him guilty of anything (yet), so he was trustworthy for the while.
“Yes sir, Mario” he answered humbly, looking across the room, where Peach smiled encouragingly.
“I understand that our Peachie has taken quite the appeal to you, boy” Mario wasn’t sure if being referred to as ‘boy’ was good or bad. He ignored the issue for now and moved his attention back to not making a fool of himself.

A few questions later (what subjects are you into? Extra-curricular? Plans for the future?), Peach glanced at the oak clock above the mantelpiece. “Daddy, we need to get going if we’re going to get to the restaurant in time” she said, still using her soft, manipulative voice.
“What? Oh, right-o. Silly me. You kids have fun” he stood up and showed them to the door eagerly.
“Bye, Daddy!” Peach called from the bottom of the steps. Her father dismissed the young couple with a last wave of his hand, before turning his tail and heading back inside.

“Well?” Peach asked eagerly.
“Well what?” Mario was confused.
“Did you like Daddy and Mumsy?” Peach asked, a small note of irritability in her voice.
“Oh, of course” Mario assured the princess, putting a protective arm around her shoulders. She smiled at him, forcing herself to look up, allowing the sun to highlight her dainty features. Mario allowed himself to get lost in her eyes.

“So, where are we heading tonight?” asked Peach, in a slightly less sweet voice.
“You have no idea, baby” Mario said, tipping his cap and revving the engine.

[Waffle Monger]

It's good, but I need to read it again to reevaluate my first assumptions. I read it quickly before I got off earlier.

I know you are new, but do not doublepost within 48 hours.

[Panique]

Oh, 48 hours here. Right, okay. XD I always mix up forum rules, it's 24 hours at the forum I go on most.

I'm still learning! Don't be too tough! >< And thanks for the (mini) review.

EDIT: I'll delete those posts if you want.

[ruben_gamer4life]

pretty awsome story

[kratos2934]

I really like the descriptons 8.5/10. Good job.

[Panique]

Thanks! If it helps, it's also availible at Fan Fiction.net. My author page is here. XD It's my birthday today, so I'm not sure if I'll have time to update. However, I totally started writing chapter 2. It focuses more on Luigi, the first few chapters will be sort of introductory chapters into the characters.

[Panique]

I'm lazy, and I'm (wo)man enough to admit it. But due to (un)popular demand, here's chapter 2!

Chapter 2

On the other side of town, Luigi was preparing to spend another Saturday night at home with only the television for company. He’d become almost used to this situation, but still wasn’t happy with it. After all, compared to his brother’s ongoing romance with the young, attractive heiress of the small town would make anyone feel down.
Slumping on the sofa, Luigi dipped his hands into the buttery popcorn and flicked on his ‘guilty pleasure’, a soap opera, “All of our Toads”.

“Dianne, please!” a male toad aged in his late 20s was begging to an attractive toad who looked a bit younger. She turned to face him and dismissed his begging with a sigh.
“Ronald, you know how I feel. About you. And your brother” she stared at herself in the reflection of her fingernails. Pink, with a hint – well, more than a hint – of shiny lacquer.

A knock at the door made Luigi jump. A few pieces of popcorn flew out of the bowl and onto the scuffed floor as he stumbled up and walked to the door.
“Hello?” he muttered, surprisingly drowsy after getting a little too involved with the soap opera.
“Luigi? Are you in?” a feminine voice came from the outside. Luigi hadn’t been expecting that.
“Err… can I help you?” he asked, confused at who his mysterious visitor could be. She giggled.
“Luigi, it’s cold outside!” she said, chattering her teeth loudly. He realised that she wasn’t going to answer her name and resignedly opened the door.
“Daisy?” he asked, confused, as a young girl with long brunette hair stepped into his doorway.
“That’s me! And you’re Luigi. Wow, I like your house! It’s very…” she searched for a word, “quaint!”
‘What are you doing here?’ Luigi wanted to ask. Instead, he tried phrasing it a little more appropriately.
“What brings you here this evening?” he asked in his suavest voice. Daisy’s head cocked to the side.
“Why are you talking like that? Are you sick? We don’t have to study tonight, if you are…” she trailed off, gazing past Luigi and into the living room. “Hey! Are you watching ‘All of our Toads’?” Daisy asked. Oh, no! Luigi felt like an idiot.
“Uhh… n-no! Heh. ‘Course not. Me? Soap opera? Umm…” Daisy waltzed past him and delicately sat on the worn couch.
“I didn’t know you liked this show!” she exclaimed. Luigi stumbled over to the couch and awkwardly sat next to Daisy.

For the next 20 minutes, nothing was heard from the living room except the static voices of the Toads on television (Luigi and Mario didn’t get the best reception). When the show was over, Daisy jumped up.
“Okay – should we study now?” she asked, looking around the house some more. She was eager to see what it looked like aside from the living room and entry hall. Luigi noticed this and took it as an opportunity to make conversation.
“Er, would you like me to show you around?” he asked. Daisy beamed and walked over to him.
“Okay! Where to first?” Luigi escorted Daisy around the house, showing her the kitchen, dining room, study, the bathroom, Mario’s bedroom…
“Hey! What’s behind that door, hmm?” Daisy asked inquisitively, playfully attempting to push past Luigi and gain access to the room.
“Uhh, nothing! It’s a – a storage cabinet!” he lied through his teeth. Daisy pouted.
“Well where’s your bedroom then, hm?” she giggled, “You liar! That’s no storage cabinet” she pushed past him and opened the door. Luigi followed ashamedly.
“It’s nice! I like it!” Daisy approved his room, sitting on his bed. She bounced up and down a little. “Hmm, squishy!” Luigi had never had his bed described as ‘squishy’. He laughed at the definition and sat down next to Daisy. While she looked around the room a little more, he grabbed a small book from beneath his pillow and shoved it down the space between his bed and his nightstand. His diary could never fall into the hands of anyone except himself.
“Your room’s very cosy… not small, though. Definitely not small. When I said ‘cosy’ I didn’t mean…” Daisy trailed off, embarrassed. Luigi wondered to himself if this was the first time in the girl’s life when she’d been caught speechless.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t take any offense” Luigi offered.
“Oh, good. Because it’s not small. It’s quaint!” Daisy said enthusiastically. Over the next half hour, Luigi and Daisy made polite (but not stuffy) conversation before Daisy checked the gold wristwatch that was draped elegantly around her slim wrist.
“Wow! Quarter to already?” she gasped, jumping off the bed. “I promised my parents I’d be home in fifteen minutes! I guess we never got a chance to study after all. Another time!” Luigi followed Daisy down the stairs while she frantically searched for her books. He led her to the door. An awkward silence ensued.
“Err… I had fun tonight” Luigi tried.
“Me too! Me too.” Daisy felt like an idiot. It wasn’t often she had a hard time making conversation. Something about Luigi just made her feel odd.
“Well… goodnight!” Daisy said cheerfully, managing a small wave, and headed down the footpath. Luigi closed the door with a sigh and made his way back over to the couch.

Not fifteen minutes later, Mario came home.
“Have fun tonight?” Luigi asked, hiding a grin.
“No, not really” Mario lied. He made his way upstairs.
“Your jeans are inside out” Luigi called up the stairs, chuckling. Mario blushed and ran upstairs.

[kratos2934]

Ok.... The last part creeped me out a little. Thinking about why Mario, a video game character, would have his pants on inside out after a date. You should have left that out, but every thing esle was awsome.

[Panique]

That's the point. Creeping you out XD

Besides, now you have to imagine what happened on Mario and Peach's night. ;]