The Queenly Attire of Peach Toadstool

As Queen Toadstool came strutting into the Audience Chamber in her red stiletto heels, Mario could feel himself falling in love with her all over again, or was that lust? It seemed as though in lieu of simply dressing her up in her usual attire, her fashion designers had scraped the back of the Queen’s wardrobe for anything presentable to the public. Fortunately for them, it seemed like Peach had been keeping a cocktail dress somewhere in there. It was a strapless floor length hot pink gown with a high slit. A very high slit. Mario kept catching a glimpse of her smooth leg with every other step, almost but not quite to her hips, which the dress clung to very tightly, making the plumber wonder if she were wearing anything under that.

Apart from that, she was wearing a pair of white opera gloves with pink lace trim, and from her wrists she hung her parasol, Perry, whom she appeared to be using as a sheath for her Vibe Scepter. Mario could see its handle peeking out from his folds. Around her neck she wore a frilled collar from which she’d hung her brooch, hanging just high enough as to not be lost in the valley of her cleavage.

For the most part, her gaze was on the goal before her: the throne, but she did shoot Mario a sultry look as she passed on by. He returned the look as he admired how her breasts bounced with every step before bowing with the rest of the crowd. As she passed on by, Mario could see that the dress she was wearing was a halter, exposing her lovely back.

“Whew,” Luigi muttered under his breath, “I’m pretty sure she just fucked you with her eyes, bro.”

“I concur, Master,” Tiptron said just as quietly, “Her heart rate quickened upon gazing upon you and her facial expressions matched those of a human wishing to procreate with a one-point-six percent margin of error.”

“She’s done much more than that already,” Mario snickered silently.

Luigi sighed, “I wish I had a woman like that in my life.”

Mario shot his brother a look. Surely he wasn’t lacking that much in confidence or sense? Just how many passes had Daisy made at him? Luigi needed that confidence boost and fast. Soon, bro, soon, Mario silently promised him as Toadsworth gave the gathered citizens permission to rise.

“I thank you, my subjects, for coming here today, and on such short notice,” Queen Toadstool began her speech, “After the events of yesterday, I thought it prudent to discuss the changes that I shall be making to the Kingdom going forward as well as my vision for it going forward. To that end, I have several announcements to make and after which I shall hear any questions, complaints, and concerns from you all.”

The crowd began to murmur among themselves. It was very rare indeed for there to be an opportunity for an audience with Peach like this, especially considering how often she was absent from the Kingdom. Normally such audiences were conducted by Toadsworth or another, lesser, steward under his employ which was about as effective as talking to a brick wall. Mario felt the mood of the room shift from nervous anxiety to cautious optimism. A step in the right direction.

“Think of today as a sort of public forum,” Peach continued, “And do not feel the need to stand on ceremony, please feel free to eat, drink, talk, and mingle about yourselves.” The tension in the room dropped another notch. Mario nodded in satisfaction; in the parlor yesterday when they were discussing plans with Toadsworth, the three of them agreed that the best way to approach the populace currently was with a candid attitude. They were winging this just as much as the regular citizens were, so approaching them as equals rather than rulers would do wonders for their mood. Offering free food and drink also helped, Mario thought as he sipped from his Fire Flower tea again. This flavor was really growing on him.

“For my first announcement, I would like to formally announce the creation of a new subsidiary kingdom,” Peach continued, “Brothers Mario and Luigi Jumpman, if you would please approach the throne.”

“Showtime,” Mario clapped his brother on the shoulder and together they walked up the path to where Peach stood, feeling like it took longer to approach than it looked. Tiptron in the meanwhile fluttered to a nearby balcony. They knelt down before her and she began speaking again, “I hereby declare Marioland an independent nation, separate from the Mushroom Kingdom and the two Jumpman brothers as the sole heirs and beneficiaries of the nation so long as the nation continues to serve the interests of the Mushroom Crown and swear fealty to its rightful leader. Do you so swear?”

“I swear,” the brothers announced, Luigi’s voice still a little shaky.

“I now pronounce Mario and Luigi Jumpman the officially recognized leaders of Marioland, and hereby grant them both the noble title of Prince,” Peach touched each of their shoulders with the Vibe Scepter as though she were knighting them, “Rise, Princes Mario and Luigi Jumpman.” They did so, and Peach smiled at them both before addressing the crowd once more, “Long may they reign.”

Mario and Luigi turned around to see the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom bow before them. Mario was awe-struck despite himself; never in a hundred years would he imagine that when he fell down that pipe during a routine inspection that he would wind up being crowned a Prince and have people bowing to him. It felt almost like a dream.

“Long may they reign!” the crowd cried out excitedly. Mario let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He had been holding onto a nagging thought at the back of his mind this whole time that even though he was crowned Prince, the people wouldn’t accept it. It appeared that his fears were just as unwarranted as he’d been telling himself all day.

“All rise,” Toadsworth said, allowing the people of the Kingdom to stand once more.

“As for my second announcement…,” Peach began, letting her words hang in the air, “Prince Mario, in recognition of your contributions to the Mushroom Kingdom and its people above and beyond the line of service as the Crown’s Royal Plumber, I the Queen of the Mushroom Kingdom am offering a reward worthy of such risk and effort.

“Mario,” Peach held out her hand and smiled, “Will you marry me?”

Mario was about to respond when a voice burst forth from the other end of the Audience Chamber, shattering the fragile silence that had settled after Peach’s offer, “What is this farce?!”