The brothers made their way to the throne chair, smashed into pieces from the fight with Bowser, and grabbed the 2 keys for the cages located in the back of the chair. Mario grabbed they key for Peach's cage while Luigi grabbed the key for Daisy's cage. The brothers both opened them, allowing them to meet the princesses face to face, albeit the princesses were sleeping away from the torment by dwelling in Bowser's domain.
"She's so beautiful," Mario whispered to himself, unable to look away at Peach's beauty. "To think I get the pleasure of taking you back to the Mushroom kingdom." He picked up Peach from the cage and held her bridal style. She didn't twitch or move a muscle as she was still sleeping away.
"Mama Mia," Luigi whispered, smiling at her as she was locked in a peaceful sleep. "I would one day like to get acquainted with you, but for now I must return you to the Mushroom Kingdom and fulfill the mission." Luigi had also picked up Daisy bridal style then turned to look at his brother, who was love-struck with Peach. "Ready to go bro?" Luigi said as Mario now shifted his focus to Luigi with a confident smile.
"Let's a go" replied Mario as they walked out of Bowser's castle via a back door entrance and then set a course back for the Mushroom Kingdom. "Luigi, we're going to need to make camp soon. It's too dark to get back to the Mushroom Kingdom in one day."
"I agree," Luigi said pointing towards the tree Mario and Luigi were previously camping one or two nights before. "Let's settle there and wait until morning to finish out the journey back."
The Mario brothers both laid the princesses down in a blanket, still stuck in whatever dreams they were in. Mario and Luigi then set up a tent and their sleeping bags as they prepared themselves to sleep the night away.
"Let's a go fishing again," Mario said picking up his fishing pole. "I'm not tired yet." With that said, both brothers journeyed to the small stream awaiting their luck to catch more fish.
About fifteen minutes after the Mario Brothers were gone, the princesses stirred up from their slumber. They awoke to realize they were neither in Bowser's castle nor the Darklands anymore, but by a small stream that was considered part of the Mushroom Kingdom. Peach and Daisy then turned to look at each other. "They did it," said Peach, whose voice was feeling much better after the needed sleep. "Our heroes defeated Bowser and rescued us."
Daisy just looked around; smiling at the fact someone came for them. But was puzzled as to the fact that their heroes were not in close sight. "Yeah, but where are our heroes now?" Daisy asked looking at the surroundings. "Oh there they are!" Daisy pointed out the Mario brothers fishing at the lake. "Perhaps we should go talk to them Peach? Get to know them a little bit. It's the least we can do for them since they came all this way to rescue us." Peach nodded in agreement as the two princesses made their way to the stream.
Mario and Luigi were carrying out a conversation of their own, talking about their mission as well as their future plans going forward after they had delivered the princesses to the castle. "Can't you believe it!" Mario exclaimed giving Luigi a good pat on the back. "We're a both heroes!"
"Amen to that." Luigi replied giving Mario another bro fist. "No Goomba nor Koopa will want to mess with us again. I just hope the princesses are alright up there. This journey will be quite the adventure for them."
"Well," Mario said casting out his reel into the stream. "It was quite an adventure for us. I can't believe us two brothers would take out an entire army just to get to them." The princesses were close to ear range as Mario and Luigi just kept talking without their presence being noticed.
"You know Mario," Luigi said blushing as he made his next statement. "I would happily do that again if it gives me an excuse to rescue Daisy again. She's so beautiful, I would gladly fight a thousand more Koopas and Goombas if it meant I would be able to be her Prince Charming again." Daisy blushed as she heard Luigi's last comment. She felt her heart beating fast realizing she was falling for Luigi's charm a bit.
"Ok Casanova," said Mario jokingly, making both brothers give playful shoves towards each other. "But I know how you feel bro, the way Daisy makes you feel is the same way that Peach makes me feel. She's an angel no doubt about it. She fell from the heavens below and the Mushroom Kingdom won't have a better princess than her." Peach's eyes watered a bit, having never been complemented like that before. Now Mario's charm was starting to work on her.
The Princesses stood there frozen for a second, not knowing what to do. Finally, Daisy was the first to break the silence between them two. "Alright then," Daisy whispered to Peach. "At least we know which hero to sit next to." Peach giggled a bit as the princesses prepared to make her move.
"Hi boys!" Both princesses said as Mario and Luigi got startled by whose angelic voices they were. The brothers turned behind them to see that both princesses were right behind him. They both took big gulps as know they had the chance to see into their eyes, so full of beauty and genuine kindness.
"Do you mind if we set down next to you," Asked Daisy, playing the scared girl routine. "It's awful lonely up on the hill." Without hesitation, the brothers nodded their heads. Daisy sat next to Luigi's right side, while Peach sat next to Mario's left side. Both brothers looked at each other, nervous and tense, knowing that the girls they loved were right next to them. However, they calmed down when both brothers gave looks of encouragement between each other as they turned back to the Princesses they loved.
"So, my hero," Peach said causing Mario to blush making him remove his red cap. "What's your name?
"T-the name's M-Mario." Mario replied, nervous being around the beautiful Princess Peach. W-what's y-yours?"
"I'm Peach." Peach replied patting a kiss on Mario's nose, causing him to turn even redder. "And it's been a real honor to make our acquaintance."
"Better here than in the dungeon." Mario said causing Peach to giggle a bit. "I can't believe it," Mario thought smiling to himself. "This is actually working, maybe I have a shot with her. I hope Luigi's producing the same amount of success."
On the other side of the lake, Luigi and Daisy were about to strike up a conversation of their own. "Hey there hero." Daisy said in a seductive tone, causing Luigi to blush even more than Mario. For Luigi, he was more nervous around talking to pretty girls than Mario did. "Mind if I ask your name?"
"I-I'm-m a L-Luig-gi" Luigi said starting to sweat under his cap, making him take off his green cap.
"I'm Daisy." Daisy replied giving a small smile to Luigi, causing him to get even more nervous.
"It-t's a p-pleas-sure to m-meet m-me," Luigi said before realizing his mistake, his eyes becoming wide open. "I m-mean y-you Daisy. S-sorry."
"It's ok," Daisy replied giving Luigi a kiss on the cheek, which at this point made Luigi's heart to beat fast. "You're exhausted so exhaustion's got your tongue. It's a pleasure to meet you too Weegee. You don't mind if I call you that do you?" Daisy asked the question while giving him curious big puppy dog eyes."
"N-not at a-all," Luigi said, breathing faster than normal. "Yy-ou can call m-me w-whenever y-you want, as l-long as you call me." Luigi imagined then slapping himself for being so foolish. "Really," Luigi thought. "That's the best you can come up with? You're lucky if Daisy will want to talk to you again."
Daisy just giggled again. "You're funny Weegee. How'd you get to be such a silver-tongued gentlemen?" Daisy smile became a bit bigger as she scooted over close to Luigi, giving him nervous shakes all around his body.
"Don't worry," Luigi thought to himself. "Just play it cool and you will be alright."
The conversations between Luigi and Daisy, and Mario and Peach would last for a good two hours. They talked about what their likes and dislikes, their dreams, aspirations, as well as the contrast between their worlds.
"So you're not from here?" The princess would ask.
"Nope I'm afraid not." The brother would reply.
Everyone was then getting exhausted since it was getting pretty late, the time equivalent to midnight or so.
"Milady. May I escort you back up the hill?" The brother would ask getting their respective princess to giggle.
"Oh yes please good sir." The princess would reply as all four of them made it back to the hill where the camp was setup. The brothers slept in the tent since the princess would prefer to sleep in an open setting, still feeling the effects of being trapped in the dungeon and cages for so long in Bowser's castle.
"Well good night princesses." The brothers said in unison, getting into their tent.
Peach blew a kiss to Mario and Daisy blew a kiss to Luigi, signaling good night to them.
"Oh Mario," Luigi said still love-struck from his conversation with Daisy. "What a night."
You said it Luigi," Mario said as he was love-struck from his conversation with Peach. "Tomorrow will only get better." Then both the brothers and princesses fell asleep excited for what the next day would bring for them.
When the brothers and princesses woke up, they shared a meal together, packed up the camping equipment back, and set off for the Mushroom Kingdom. The journey took about 10 hours, so it was in the middle of the evening when they reached the Town Square. The Toads living in the village gathered around to see the heroes back along with both their Princess and the Princess of Sarasaland.
"They have returned!" exclaimed the crowd, happy of the return of their beloved princess. "ALL HAIL MARIO AND LUIGI!" There was a huge celebration around the square as everyone in the Mushroom Kingdom had realized they had won and Bowser had lost. The brothers tried to avoid the celebration, not because they wanted to, but they wanted to get the princesses to the castle as fast as possible so that their mission could finally be complete.
The four had finally reached Toadstool castle. Toadsworth, after fully recovering from his injuries from the invasion of the castle four days ago was grateful to see the princesses as well as the brothers again. "Bravo what a splendid job!" exclaimed Toadsworth, running up towards the princesses and hugging them. "I missed you two and I'm glad you're finally safe." He then walked towards the brothers giving them a handshake. "You have my thanks Master Mario and Master Luigi. Great job accomplishing your mission."
All five of them walked towards the entrance to the castle as Toadsworth, Princess Peach, and Princess Daisy entered the castle, with Mario and Luigi waiting outside, prepared to say goodbye to the princesses.
"Wait, Mario and Luigi," peach said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Does that mean you're going back to the real world and that we will never see you again." Daisy was also intrigued with their answer as she also didn't want them to leave the Mushroom Kingdom.
Mario and Luigi looked at each other. They realized there was nothing left for them in the real world and they could be happy living in the Mushroom Kingdom. However, they felt like they didn't belong here. They were a bunch of outcasts living in a society different from them, they felt out of place.
"Princess," Mario began to reply, trying to swallow a lump down his throat to prevent from breaking into tears. "We would love to stay here, but we don't belong here. Furthermore, we-" Mario said before being interrupted by Toadsworth.
"Nonsense," Toadsworth said with a serious tone in his voice. "You couldn't be anymore wrong. You make a great addition to our kingdom and if you want, we could commission a house for you to live in, although it would be rather close to our kingdom so you may encounter these beloved princesses most of the time." Toadsworth giving a small wink to the brothers, knowing how much the brothers liked the princesses. "So what do you say? Would you like to become official citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom?" Both princesses didn't say anything, they gave a look that was almost begging of the brothers to stay.
"What do you think Luigi?" asked Mario. "I won't make a decision without your judgment."
"No let's go home." Luigi said as a small amount of silence soon followed. The princesses put their heads down, thinking they would never see the heroes again. "I'm a kidding Mario. Of course we should stay." The Princesses then picked their heads back up, and almost wanting to smack Luigi for playing a joke like that.
"Alrighty then," Mario said with a smile on his face. "We will a stay!"
"Very good then." Toadsworth replied with a small smile on his face. "Now the house will not be completed for a few days. So until then, you shall stay in the castle." Mario and Luigi gave each other a couple of bro fists, knowing they would be treated like royalty for a few days. "I shall prepare a couple of guests' beds for you. Now come inside as it is getting rather dark."
"We'll see you inside boys." The princesses said as Daisy kissed Luigi on the forehead while Peach kissed Mario on the forehead, causing them to both blush. "Good night." The princesses then went to Peach's room getting ready to turn in for the night.
"You know Luigi," Mario said as looked up towards the starry night. "I'm a goanna like this place."
"I was just about to say that." Luigi replied as he gently pushed his brother towards the door as both of them entered the castle, ready to spend their first night as citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom.
Back at the Darklands, the smoke from the destruction cleared. The villages were ruined with only a few hundred Goombas and Koopas left in the empire. A war this costly would take the empire months to rebuild. The castle stood standing but was hallow from the inside with corpses of Goombas and Koopas littering the hallways of the castle. In the throne room however, a hand was grabbing onto a ledge, as it was trying to climb out of the pit. The hand held on to the ledge with brute strength until the figure climbed out, drenched in lava and from the looks of it was badly burnt.
The figure turned out to be none other than Bowser, who had survived from the fight. His fists clenched in anger as he was extremely anger at his defeat at the hands of a couple of humans. In a bout of rage he threw his broken throne chair into the lava as he yelped from the pain that the lava pit gave him. Some of the Koopas who were present in the throne room were astonished that he was alive, thinking he would dead for certain. Bowser immediately grabbed one of them by the shoulder and issued the following command. "I…want you to…find out who they were. They are…going to pay for what they did to me." Bowser then collapsed as the pain was too much to be conscious for. The Koopas gathered him and took him to his bedroom where he would rest until he was healed, until he was at full strength and until he was ready to fight the Mario Brothers. "Next time," Bowser said to himself. "They won't be so lucky."
The End!