Up and running before 7:00, Rosalina is already gone with the Lexus to Brooklyn per a text received at 6:43. I was in the shower at that point.
When she returns, I’m just out the door and am just about to cross my first block, when who should call me by an old nickname?
“Cap! Don’t try and run from us!”
“Wasn’t trying to!” I shout as I turn around and open my arms to embrace Princess Toadstool herself.
“Hi how are you?” I ask happily as we embrace. “It’s been so long!” I add hugging Princess Daisy. “We didn’t catch up enough yesterday.”
“Yes it has!” Daisy responds. “And no it wasn’t!”
”How’ve you been?” Peach asks.
“Pretty busy actually. Had at least one hire almost every month. It’s booming.”
“That’s great!”
“I forgot to tell you yesterday. My dad’s recently started contemplating abdication.”
“Oh? Sounds exciting.”
“I guess? It is kind of daunting to think that I will soon rule over all of Sarasaland. I’m just enjoying the time I have now.”
“Well, that’s always good. I should be telling myself the same thing.”
“Why?”
Rosalina immediately shoots me a worried look, but I reassure her by sighing and nodding, then telling her, “I’m glad my business is up. Contrary to what I would say when we first met, I’m starting to get sick of sitting at home waiting for a hire.”
“Fair enough.”
“Let’s get going! The ribbon cuts at 8:00, and I’m sure there’s a crowd already.”
Husbands and wives then walk hand in hand across the few blocks to the shop. Sure enough, inside the store are my friends, making some last minute adjustments to the décor with quite a sizable crowd outside. We join them and wait for the ribbon cutting.
“So, what does your client specialize in?”
“Uh, bespoke dresses, gowns, frocks, robes, skirts - minis and maxis, and other things. All handmade and tailored to the individual needs, wants, and desires of the commissioner.”
“Ooh! Could she design Annabelle’s dress?”
“Yes? Would be good to inquire.”
“Yes, and I hope she can. The wedding is in November, and we still haven’t gotten to the dress yet.” Peach adds rather bleakly.
“The wedding is in November and you haven’t gotten to the dress yet?!”
“No! We’ve been so busy making everything else perfect. Venue, decorations, seating arrangements! It is a coronation after all!”
“Of course. Well, if you’re available, I can certainly pull some strings if necessary.“
Three other people inside the store that I apparently didn’t notice when we arrived are talking with Rarity. I imagine they’re other employees of the store.
Displaying a calm that would make Rarity lose her mind, I sneak away from the crowd and have a cigarette, since I know I can get enough huffs in to extinguish the stick completely, since I have enough to last me a while.
When I return, Rarity and her friends emerge from the boutique, ready to address the building crowd.
“Good morning ladies & gentlemen. Thank you for coming to today’s opening of Rarity For You. It is my absolute pleasure to announce that this location is officially… open!”
Cutting the large ribbon, two of the girls fling open the doors and the crowd follows Rarity in. Flooding the boutique floor, the three employees quickly spring into action.
I usher everyone in and let them browse while I quickly make my way out of a crowd to take in the scene before me. I mind you have no part in these festivities other than as a “civilian,” so who am I to indulge in these successes? Point is though, I’m extremely happy for Rarity to see her accomplish one of her biggest career goals and dreams. I may be holding my breath to see how well she fares in the long run, but for now, all I can do is enjoy the grand opening and hope that I can publicly congratulate Rarity, since I’ll have all of this coming week or two with her all to myself.
Of course, her friends have all but gone to the back as the crowd eventually gets so large, I follow in their footsteps.
“I’ll be right back.” I say as I leave the five of them to shop.
“Hey Max.” Sunset says seeing me before the others. “What’s up?”
“Oh, nothing. Just congratulations to all of you.”
“Don’t congratulate us, we just helped with housewarming. Rarity deserves all the credit. Although, I have a feeling Rarity is gonna reward herself nicely.”
Everyone laughs except for Fluttershy.
“Okay, you know what? I know Rarity swore you to secrecy, but it is killing me. Why is Rarity suddenly crushing on me?”
“I don’t know.” Sunset responds now quizzical as me.
“I kinda get the feelin’ that it may just be Rarity being Rarity.” AJ adds.
“Rarity doesn’t really strike me as the hopeless romantic type though.”
Everybody bursts into laughter. Some for dramatic effect keel over and wheeze.
“Wow Max. You really do know nothing about any of us.” Rainbow Dash says struggling for air.
“I REALLY hope you’re just playing dumb.” Pinkie adds in kind. “Rarity TOTALLY has the hots for you.”
“Why though? She’s never been like this, and especially this… provocative.”
“Is that why ‘ye asked me about an invitation?” Applejack butts in.
“Yeah. She sent me in invitation and left a genuine kiss mark on it. She’s never been this excited to see me before, and on top of everything, she wants me to take her around Britain and France. How the hell could Rarity have a crush on me? ME??!!!”
“Um, it could just be feelings she was denying for a while?” Fluttershy adds quietly.
“Could be.” Dash responds. “You are a pretty awesome dude!”
“Thanks.”
“Or…” She then gasps. “Maybe she likes you because of your money!”
Now it’s Applejack’s turn to laugh hysterically.
“What’s so funnay??” Rarity then bursts out as she barges in.
“Oh, nothing.” Sunset answers almost too quickly. “Max was just saying…”
“I have friends who want to commission you for a dress!” I answer almost regretting exclaiming my answer. “Their daughter is getting married in a couple months and she has yet to take care of it.”
Completely shocked by both Sunset and I responding so similarly, she blinks a couple times and finally computes an answer.
“Well, if it’s a wedding dress, and she wants it in a month, please point me in her direction. I’m sure I can make some space for a wedding dress.”
“Let’s go find ‘em!” I say slipping into a south country accent, quickly biting my tongue and wincing while silently whispering, “damn it Applejack.”
“Peach, Daisy, meet Rarity.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Both of these lovely ladies are the standing monarchs of the Mushroom Kingdom and Sarasaland respectively. Peach is interested in commissioning you for her daughter Annabelle’s wedding dress.”
“You’re a Princess???” She responds dumbfounded.
“Well, I guess am technically a queen, but I’ve used Princess for as long as I can remember.”
“Mario, Luigi, this is Rarity.” I then say just as the plumbers join us. “Introducing the prince consorts of the Mushroom Kingdom,” I say pointing to Mario, “And Sarasaland,” I finish with Luigi. “I need to use the bathroom, but please do get acquainted with each other. Be right back!”
Quickly heading into the back room, Starlight and Sunset look back first, but too concerned about actually having to go, I run into the bathroom and take care of my business.
When I emerge from the bathroom, Dash and Fluttershy are now on the shop floor while AJ is enjoying a slice of pizza with Starlight and Sunset. Pinkie and Twilight are both on their phones as I head back to join the conversation.
“So, what’d I miss?”
“Not much actually.” Mario answers. “The wedding date is November 1, and Rarity has agreed to make Annabelle’s dress. Now where’s your party planner? I’d love to run some ideas by.”
“Let me go find her.”
Heading into the back room, I ask Pinkie to meet some friends of ours.
“Pinkie, Princess Peach, Princess Daisy, and their husbands, Mario and Luigi respectively.”
“Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie and I plan parties!”
“Wonderful!” Peach responds. “My daughter Annabelle is getting married in November, and while we have her public coronation handled, she and her fiancé want a private ceremony with close family and friends. Could you help?”
“Of course! How available are you from now until then?”
“If it’s wedding-related, we’ll happily clear our schedule.”
“Let’s exchange contact information then. I live in Miami; are you from here?”
“They’re the standing rulers of the Mushroom World, but the portal to their universe is in Brooklyn, so yes and no.”
“Oh! Maybe I should also be planning for trips into the Mushroom World?”
“Well, we’ll want to visit you so we can see what you have to offer.” Peach says.
“Oh!” I interject. “Is Rarity doing the wedding and the coronation dress?”
“Just the wedding dress. Annabelle picked out her coronation dress already.”
“Cool. And of course, if one of you needs to make trips, just let me know. Usual terms and conditions apply.”
“Would you like to come to the Mushroom World now?”
“I’d love to, but my flight home is tomorrow.”
“Not a problem. Will you be able to come back up here anytime soon?”
“Um, I could try next week.”
“I can go either way, but it’d have to be next week at the earliest. I’m taking Rarity to Europe on Wednesday.”
“Oh. Well, we have a month and a half. We’ll definitely figure something out.”
“Yeah!”
“Why don’t you two start brainstorming and then run the ideas by Annabelle when you get back?” I suggest. “If I know Pinkie, she can throw a party together pretty quickly.”
With that, they head outside just as Rarity heads into the back room. I follow her in and find Twilight and Applejack talking with Rosalina about me, evidenced by the looks I get when I walk back. Sensing this, I immediately turn around return to the shopping room floor, where the crowd has died down significantly and a bunch of dresses are marked with “SOLD” tags. Eliminating those mentally from the shop floor wipes out approximately two thirds of her visible inventory, before noon.
While I am here to enjoy the festivities as much as the rest of her friends, I decide to head back to home and grab some more e-cigarettes. Of course, I won’t be using any of them until we get to Europe, so I instead keep the one I began and try to run it dry before carrying the others.
When I return, the final sale of the remainder of the crowd is completed with Coco, and after she leaves, Sassy places a SOLD tag on the dress, leaving only one on the floor available.
Everyone except for Pinkie is now on the floor. Rarity elatedly takes in the now empty shop floor, seeing the only dress unsold, which I’m standing next to.
“Congratulations Rarity,” I say soft enough to barely be audible, “I think this opening was a smashing success.”
“I’ll say!” Applejack cheers, “hoo whee! You’ve got ‘yer work cut out for ya tomorrow.”
“Yes indeed. Most of these dresses on display have to be adjusted or remade for some of the differently shaped customers.”
“You gonna be okay?”
“I hope so. From what most of the staff have told me, all but one or two are simple readjustments.”
“You still gonna be able to do the Europe trip?”
“Yes of course. It just means that I’ll be busy most of tomorrow.”
“Well, I guess I’m taking you all to the airport. Kennedy, Newark, or LaGuardia?”
“Kennedy.” Pinkie says.
“Kennedy.” say AJ.
“JFK!” Rainbow says to be different.
“Kennedy.” Sunset answers.
“Kennedy.” Fluttershy nods.
“Queens!” Says Twi, also to be different.
“Kennedy.” Starlight says.
“All tomorrow?”
Yeses all around, except for Rosalina, but I already know she’s leaving on Tuesday.
“Alright, give me departure times and I’ll shuttle you accordingly.
“Pinkie?”
“Yes?”
“Your flight doesn’t depart until the evening. Why don’t you pop ‘round the MK for a day?”
“You could meet Annabelle.” Peach adds as she joins us. “And you could check out the venues.”
“Really?” She responds half-excited.
“You’re all invited to the intimate ceremony. You can be guests of both our planner and of a guest of honor.”
“Really?” I respond in the same way as Pinkie. “I barely even know her!”
“No, but you are married to her adoptive mother. No way we can’t invite you!”
“Gee, I… I’m honored.”
“Oh, stop. She really liked you when you met back then. No reason to doubt she’d like you now.”
“Should I go with them?” She asks the group.
“Why not?” Applejack begins. “You love to plan ‘yer parties, and this would be one heck of a party.”
“We could run some of the kingdom coronation ideas by you!” Peach says to sweeten the deal. “I’m sure the royal coronation committee would love an outside eye.”
“How can I say no to that?!” She responds with hearts in her eyes, giddier than me in an airliner.
“I’ll go too.” Rosalina adds. “I’d love to see my dear Lumas again.”
“Let’s go then!” I exclaim. “Anyone else wanna join?”
“I’d love to, but I’m here to see Manhattan.” Dash says.
“Same here. I haven’t been to New York, so I planned a whole trip.” Sunset adds.
“I’ll come.” Starlight says. “I can say I’ve been to three separate worlds in one trip. I’m sure Twilight would love a trip report.”
“I’m venturing with Rainbow Dash. Sorry.” Applejack then says almost afraid to admit it.
“No worries.”
“Sorry. As interesting and lucrative as your offer sounds, I’m Sunset’s travel buddy.”
“Good on ya. Especially here. I guess we’re set then. Wanna go now?”
“Are we gonna spend the night?”
“If you want to.”
“We’ll see. Let’s stop by the house and grab our things. Just in case.”
With that, we bid our farewells.
When we get home, Rosalina says “I’ll drive them to Brooklyn. Should I just come back for you or are you going to drive the Rolls Royce?”
“Just come back. In case they need to use it.”
“Okay. Pinkie, you should go first. The Mushroom World’s customs for first-time visitors will take a little while.”
“Okie dokie, Loki!”
“Who’s driving?”
“I will.” Luigi says.
“Awful brave of ‘ya.” I quip back.
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“Nothing.”
Taking Peach, Pinkie, Mario, and Daisy with them, Rosalina and I are left alone with Starlight for at least a half hour.
“So, when would be a good time to break the news? If we don’t do it now, we’ll have to break it to both royal families, the Lumas, and eventually, Annabelle.”
“I know. I just don’t want to dishearten anyone especially this close to a wedding.”
When Luigi returns, I toss my stuff in and ask,
“You gonna take the car through the pipes?”
“You want to?”
“Not really. I feel like it’d be so much faster to warp direct to the castle.”
“Alright.”
When we reach the bros’ old office, Luigi parks next to their work trucks and hides the car strategically out of prying eyes, then after grabbing my bag, he gives me the keys, I lock it and follow my wife, Luigi, and Starlight into the pipe.
We all emerge in front of the castle in a very familiar spot. The castle has gone through some changes in the year and a half since I visited, including an updated hallmark stained glass window, and where there used to be just a giant empty circle is now a grand fountain. It is quite beautiful.
“Wow!” I exclaim. “So much has changed! I love what you’ve done with the place.”
“Thank you. Bowser actually helped with it some. He redid this entire fountain area.”
As I admire the fountain, another pipe emerges and warps out the rest of the party.
“Hello!” Mario calls as he pops out of the pipe.
“OMD, é bellissimo!” I respond.
“Grazie.”
“Pinkie, welcome to the Mushroom Kingdom!”
“I’m going to go ahead into the garden. I’m going to see if Starship Mario is here.”
“I’ll go with you. I’ll let the royals themselves take care of Pinkie and Starlight.”
With that, she smiles and we join hands, interlocking fingers and walking tall to the castle garden.
Unfortunately, the landing pad for Starship Mario is empty, so the two of us can only assume that they’re with the Koopa Kingdom’s discovery convoy or on a maritime cosmos patrol. In any case, we’re both sad to miss them, but hopefully they’ll be here when we return for the coronation and wedding. Instead, I sit down in the garden and lay under the shade of one of the trees dotting the garden, Rosalina’s comet observatory in full view, parked majestically next to the landing pad for Starship Mario, the distinction of which is marked by Mario’s face on the pad for SS Him.
After about a half hour or so under the trees, Daisy and Luigi ask us to head into the castle so we can meet Annabelle.
“Oh my goodness! Rosalina, hi!” Annabelle squeals upon seeing her adoptive mother enter the castle foyer.
“How are you, Annabelle? You remember my husband, Cap?”
“Hi how are you?” I respond somewhat shyly.
“I’m doing well. Excited for November!”
“I’m so happy for you, even though we’ve only known each other for a year.”
“Oh, that’s alright. You’re family anyway. Rosalina and I talk all the time.”
“I’m glad you stay in touch. Where’s Jr?”
“He’s with his father. The Koopa kingdom is on a long voyage to explore our world. They’ve already discovered over 10 different kingdoms. You know Donkey Kong?”
“I do! I helped plan his wedding!”
“Oh yes, of course! Sounded like a lot of fun.”
“It was a success. Everyone was happy, but are you a car person?”
“Not particularly, but I do enjoy driving.”
“Sure. I only ask because you likely would’ve driven one of nineteen or twenty Bugatti Veyron of mine. Unless you like that kind of thing, I doubt you would enjoy it otherwise.”
“Oh okay. Well, in any case, I’m sure you know about how he and Pauline rebuilt New Donk City and the Metro Kingdom basically from the ground up.”
“Yes, I’ve heard. I haven’t been, but I hear it’s a true metropolis now.”
“I’ve heard the same. I’ll be visiting them when Jr and I go on our celebratory tour.”
“That’s good to hear. Congratulations.”
“Thank you. It means a lot.”
“Are we ready?” Peach asks.
“Where are we going?”
“The wedding chapel.” Annabelle responds.
“Where is it?”
“Honeylune Ridge.”
“Where’s Honeymoon Ridge?”
“HoneyLUNE ridge. You actually kind of gave it away.”
“The moon?!”
“Yeah!” Peach responds. “Let’s go!”
Just then, a very large top-hat shaped airship touches down by the fountain.
“Is that a…?”
“Yes it is!” Mario says removing his cap, as if to tip his hat to the ship. “Let’s-a go!”
Completely cap-tivated by the ship, I notice the “registration” of 999 preceded by a crescent moon. “Interesting.” I think to myself.
When I step aboard the actual hull of the ship, or brim of the hat as it were, a ghost emerges from inside the hat. Speaking indistinctly with Mario and Luigi, I take a walk on the deck and get a feel for the admittedly cramped ship.
“Welcome aboard the Odyssey!” Mario says coming over to me. “Meet Cappy. He’s the owner of this ship.”
“Hi there!” He greets. “Cappy.”
“Hello Cappy. Pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise. Welcome to the Odyssey. We’re going to Honeylune Ridge right?”
“Yeah.” Mario replies.
“Alrighty. Special rule about flying to the moon. No one is allowed to be on deck before we reach escape velocity. Once we clear the atmosphere, then I can let you out.”
“Awesome! How long will it take?”
“10 minutes or so. Depends on how easily we can hit escape velocity.”
“Okay. I don’t know if Mario told you, but my friend Pinkie Pie and I need to be back in New York tomorrow morning at the latest.”
“Thank you for letting me know. That Pinkie Pie girl is quite a chatterbox.”
“That she is. She’s here to help plan Annabelle’s wedding and coronation, so we’re just scoping out the chapel and the rest of Honeylune Ridge.”
“Oh! Okay! Let’s get going then.”
“Hey,” Daisy says, “dad needs Luigi and I back now.”
“Okay. Sorry you can’t join us.”
“Us too. We’ll see you guys at the wedding and coronation! It was nice meeting you Pinkie!”
“Same here!” Pinkie calls back. “It’ll be an awesome party, I can already tell!”
“I hope so! Bye!”
“Alrighty,” Mario chimes, “everyone inside!”
Seeing as how the actual ship is about 3/4 of a traditional studio apartment, the 5 of us are a bit cramped inside. Nevertheless, we all find ways to get comfortable as Cappy starts the ship and gets us going.
When we land on the moon, to my surprise, we don’t need any breathing apparatuses. However, here, I do feel lighter. As I should. This is the moon after all.
Mario and Cappy then lead us to the chapel, where a sudden realization hits me.
“If Annabelle and Junior are getting married here, how are all the kingdoms going to watch it?”
“This is for the intimate ceremony. The coronation is going to take place in Toad Harbor. It’s the only city close to the Koopa border that can accommodate the potential crowd.”
“Oh. Well, I love it either way!”
“Glad you do.” Annabelle says, “Rosalina is the ring bearer.”
“Alrighty! Who’s officiating?”
“Both Mario and Bowser.”
“Okay.” I respond just as I catch Pinkie exploring the venue rather intimately.
“I hope you’re not looking for places to conceal your party cannon.”
“Of course not! I’m looking for places to put my party cannons so that we can shower the newlyweds in confetti!”
Sighing, I only facepalm and whisper “of course she would. Pinkie being Pinkie.”
“I think I can make this the best! Wedding! EVER!” She squeals excitedly. “I’ll need to come back here at least once or twice though.” She says to Peach.
“Can be done.”
“What time is it at home?” I ask with my watch and phone clocks rendered useless.
“Just shy of 17:00.”
“We’ve only been here an hour?”
“Yeah. You want to head back.”
“I guess. Is there anything else to do here?”
“Not really.”
“Wanna go to Toad Harbor?” I ask. “Are coronation staff there?”
“They should be.”
“Do they know about Pinkie.”
“I can introduce her.”
“Let’s do that!”
When we arrive at Toad Harbor, to my surprise I get a very strong San Francisco vibe, more than usual. Then again, I was fortunate enough to take residence in an old complex in Neo Koopa City, only a few dozen miles or so into the Koopa Kingdom from here. Dirt cheap lot, since the complex was basically abandoned when the Koopa moved their capital from Neo Koopa City to its present home of Castle Koopa. Yes, the city is named after its defining feature.
Exploring the city, glad there isn’t a race in town, Pinkie is soon introduced to the heads of the coronation committee, where they start to exchange ideas. Eventually, we make our way around the location of the crowning ceremony.
Built on one of the prominent hills in the city, a bell tower linked to another castle features a strong platform overlooking the city’s marina and ports. I assume the plan is for the newly-crowned princess to wave to a crowd on boats and those that crowd the rooftops of all the buildings and the streets she’ll be facing.
As I look out to the view, I smile contentedly, knowing that even with a stiff sea breeze, this is one of the best spots in the city. Visible in the distance is the Koopa Kingdom, though I imagine the Statue of Princess Peach would provide better views from her crown, or even the star in her upheld hand?
As the sun slowly makes its way across the sky, the bell tower rings. I time check and note that the time difference between Toad Harbor – the former capital city, and the Mushroom Kingdom’s easternmost settlement; and Toad Town – the current capital city, and the westernmost settlement in the MK, is 5 hours.
I talk to Cappy about the ship as we continue to explore Toad Harbor, with plenty of locals giving us looks. I try and avoid attention, since I’m merely Rosalina’s husband, and really, Annabelle is with us. Of course, me being me, I can’t help but express my interest in the Odyssey. Cappy I imagine can see this and happily talks about his ship. It is his pride and joy after all, so he ought to flaunt it.
Soon, it comes time for dinner. Princess Peach then takes us to one of her favorite pizza joints in the city, which is in actuality, a bit of a hole in the wall, but after seeing the many denizens enjoying slices outside, it looks pretty legit.
Various pies line the shop’s counter, ranging from vegetable supreme (yes, there are mushrooms on these pizzas) to meat lovers, with plain cheese, four cheese, and almost everything in between. They even do custom/BYO whole pies and have a suggestion box for future toppings combinations, which is laughably full.
The staff give Princesses Peach and Rosalina friendly salutations and follow them religiously in anticipation of what they want. Annabelle gets a more fanatic treatment, mostly due to the upcoming coronation. It’s here that I see how great of a sport she is in dealing with all the attention for said upcoming event. She takes a lot after Rosalina. After all, she raised her.
Each of us gets one slice of something different, and despite not being presented with a bill, Peach leaves them the amount due.
Taking a vacant large table outside, we enjoy our slices in the late afternoon sun, with not a cloud in sight. Not even the sea breeze is enough to ruffle anyone’s hair. Well, maybe Pinkie’s, but the lack of a sea breeze doesn’t quite feel like San Francisco.
When the time comes for us to leave Toad Harbor, we pile into the Odyssey, and upon sitting down on the one chair aboard, exhaustion hits me like a Portland milkshake. I pass the heck out soon after we take to the skies, thinking 1. Milkshakes don’t contain concrete, and 2. Dogs can understand many human words, but why can’t we speak bark? (I think Fluttershy can though).
When we land at the castle, Toad Town still has about 2 hours of daylight left, but even in spite of my short nap, I’m absolutely beat.
“Did I leave a car at this castle?” I ask in my stupor.
“Yes you did.” Peach responds. “Why?”
“Nothing really. Just curious is all.” I continue as my lips stop moving, leaving the rest of my mouth to do most of the talking. “Unfortunately, I think I’m stayin’ the night here. Somebody catch me.” I say as I finally succumb to my biological desire to hard reboot.
Waking up with a painful groan, the room around me is all white except for a single artwork right above the headboard. Sitting up, I take a good long look at the painting.
“Oh, they put me here.” I say to myself as I look around the room. “Where’s my bag?”
Once my vision finally starts to clear up, I find the bag neatly sitting on the floor close to the door. I then force myself out of the bed and fish out the essentials, toiletries and my new change of clothes, before heading into the en suite.
A hot, steamy shower and equally relaxing nap after the fact is ruined by the reminder that I have to do airport shuttles. Forcing myself to get ready for a mildly tough day ahead, I brush my teeth, pack my bag, and exit the bedroom.
To my surprise, the smells coming from the castle kitchen are rife with sugar and baking bread. That can only mean one thing.
“Snowball sprinkle cupcake waffles, jellybean beignets, and of course, the sugar cookie croissants!!!”
“Yep. I called it man.” I sigh to myself as Pinkie is having the time of her life showing the castle cooks her dessert making skills.
Being a fly on the wall as best I can, I keep my distance and try to keep my profile low to see where Pinkie goes with this. To my surprise, all of those desserts she mentioned are cooling down right now.
“Hey Max!” She calls amidst her task.
“How did you know?”
“Saw your reflection in the oven door.”
“Go figure. Are these ideas for the coronation?”
“As hors d’oeuvres, maybe. But obviously, they have to be desserts.”
“Can you make an hors d’oeuvre out of any of these? They seem awfully intricate to be able to squeeze into a bite size. If you can, mad kudos, but these are good desserts.”
“Obviously.“
“Friendly reminder that your flight out is tonight, and it’s currently 8:56 am.”
“Don’t worry! It’ll be fine! I don’t need to be at the airport until 3:00 anyway.”
“That means the latest we can leave is about 14:00. Warp pipe shouldn’t take too long, but the issue will be fighting the traffic to the airport, which isn’t all that surprising, but still doesn’t mean I can’t take precautions.”
I then put my bag by the front door and wait for the Princess.
“Good morning Max!” She calls from atop the grand staircase. “You feeling better?”
“Yeah. Sorry if I scared you. I just got exhausted really quickly. Hit a wall when we left Toad Harbor.”
“I’m glad you feel better. When does Pinkie Pie leave?”
“Her flight leaves at 17:00, so I’d like to get her there along with another friend to JFK before traffic gets too bad.”
“Definitely.”
“Pinkie’s having fun with the baker toads. Lots of sugar in there. Getting cavities and a heart attack just thinking about it.”
“Oh dear. Don’t do that.”
“Hopefully we can get back to Brooklyn quickly. Isn’t New York and here on the same time zone?”
“Yes.”
“K cool.”
A few moments later, Pinkie emerges with a plate full of steaming hot desserts for Peach to taste.
“Try these. I think these would be nice for either the coronation or the wedding.”
Taking a bite of each dessert she has, Peach ponders for a bit before saying, “These are all really good. I’m sure Annabelle would approve, but I’d love to take these to her.”
“I have a fresh batch in the kitchen. Let me get them.” She responds heading back into the kitchen.
When she emerges, she hands the new tray off and splits the rest of the tray with me.
“How did you become friends?” She asks.
“We met through Rarity. She’s a famous party thrower in her neighborhood. It’s quite a block party.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It really is.”
“There’s plenty to snack on still. Let me clean up and pack, then we can head back!”
“Alrighty.” I respond as she heads back into the kitchen.
With Pinkie and Starlight all ready to go, Peach comes down with Annabelle, we exchange hugs, and head for the pipes.
