Alright, I suppose that this is going to be the final chapter! Forgive me if the ending is rather brief, but I will try to include as many details as I can manifest in it.

Peach went straight to her bedroom, where she found that Bowser had already set up the spare bed right next to hers.

"I see you decided to come back a little early." Peach said.

"Yeah," Bowser said, "didn't want any of your guards to notice me."

Peach giggled, "Yeah, that wouldn't be a good time…but I would force them to let you out any day now."

"So…I guess this means we put our feud aside?" Bowser asked.

"So long as you stop the kidnapping and raiding!" Peach said, laughing afterwards, "And you know, I would have considered never starting the feud in the first place…had you have simply interacted with the Mushroom Kingdom more…peacefully."

Bowser went red, "Yeah…sorry about all that." He said.

"I'm sure you can be forgiven, if you explain your story to everyone." Peach said.

"I hope…" Bowser said.

Peach turned out the light, "Well, goodnight."

"Night, Princess." Bowser replied.

Before long, the two fell asleep.

The following day, Peach had all the civilians and visitors of Toad Town gather in the castle plaza for a vitally important announcement. She officially proclaimed that the ongoing war between the Mushroom Kingdom and the Dark Lands was finally at an end. The citizens were all startled to see that Bowser had shown up, yet after taking the courage to let him explain what he had considered to end his attacks, and after everything that had happened, they all slowly began to trust him, but not by a whole lot.

It was later that the Mushroom Kingdom and Dark Lands were both merged into one gigantic civilization, which would still go under the name "Mushroom Kingdom". Peace had finally fallen across the entire continent. Fewer conflicts with other nations started as a result.

Bowser was later crowned the High King of the Mushroom Kingdom, and "Princess" Peach was no more, as she now retains the title of High Queen Peach Toadstool. Soon after their coronation, they were both married, and spent all the time, that they didn't have to worry about their duties, with the Koopalings, who were all incredibly pleased that their mother had finally accepted them as her children.

Mario, on the other hand, didn't ship the fact that Peach and Bowser were together, and ran his plumbing service in a rather despondent state. His services soon declined, and it forced him to resort to pounding as many coins out of blocks (until they turned brown) for his fortune. The red-capped plumber was one day walking through a park, trying to find something to value and perk him up…when a rather unexpected thing had occurred.

Mario saw a woman wearing a red dress and with dark brown hair, looking at some flowers in a bed of rich soil. She looked really familiar.

"Pauline-a!?" Mario exclaimed.

The woman looked up, and her eyes widened greatly, "Oh my God…Mario!? Is that you!?" she rushed up to him and pulled him into a hug, "Where have you been all these years?" she asked.

"Well-a, you see-a, I was-a transported to this-a world by some-a warp-a zone that appeared right-a below me a few days-a after I rescued-a you from-a Donkey Kong-a." Mario said, still utterly shocked at seeing Pauline for the first time in many years, "How did-a you get-a here-a?"

"Well, I was wandering around the streets…and the same thing happened: a warp zone appeared right under my feet, and the next thing I know, I'm in this weird land." Pauline said, "But…I'm still so glad to see you again."

Suddenly, Peach, who now wears a white dress and more ornamental crown, and Bowser, wearing a crown with a single, tall spike on the front and a red cloak, walked into the courtyard.

"Well, hello Mario!" Peach said, "Haven't seen you since I was still Princess! And…who's this?" she pointed to Pauline.

"I'm Pauline. I'm a friend of Mario's." Pauline said.

"Queen Peach," Peach said, waving, "nice to meet you, Pauline."

Pauline smiled awkwardly, "Queen, huh? So…" her eyes moved nervously to Bowser, "…this thing—sorry, guy…is the King?"

Bowser nodded, "Yep. And don't worry, I'm not a bad guy." He said, smiling in a friendly way.

Mario folded his arms, "I wouldn't-a be so sure-a about-a that!" he protested, "He has-a repeatedly kidnapped the Queen-a, raided-a the castle, and-a attack-a me over and-a over! He's-a crazy!"

"Oh, he's just a big sweetheart!" Peach said, hugging Bowser at his side.

Bowser blushed, "Heh, stop it, Peach." He said, chuckling.

"So…" Pauline began, "…any place we can get a bite to eat?"

"Sure!" Peach said, "The Mushroom Marinade has a great bunch of dishes! Let's call up Daisy and Luigi and get a table before they run out!"

From what can be assumed, everyone has had a happy ending…

…However, it's not the case for all people.

Carmilla was now being transported back to the Agaricus Nation in a prison ship. She has been charged with treason, attempted murder, theft of royal artifacts, and mainly, practice of Dark arts. With all of these charges, even after her trial, she will spend the remainder of her life in prison, with a sentence of 320 years. Without her leadership, the Dark Cult later disbanded, and the remaining followers went into hiding.

However, as Carmilla lay on her uncomfortable cot, staring at the ceiling as the years go by, she knows that, one day, there will be a time when corruption and chaos spread across the world again, just like in the old times. Though now an old woman, faith has not left Carmilla, and this time, she knows for sure what this world will have in store for the next war…

Okay, so there might not be a sequel. The "cliffhanger" ending is just a reference to how the Mario franchise will never die, and Mario will keep going on endless adventures. Well, that's my try at another Nintendo franchise! I could possibly do more, but who knows, maybe I'm just too crotchety…XD. Until next time, this is midnightwolfGX, signing off…Keep holding on…