Beauty and the Beast Week - Free Day!!
Hello, my lovely dears! It’s the seventh day of Beauty and the Beast fandom week and for Free Day, I decided to write a special story based on my Super Mario Bros/Wreck It Ralph AU. To give a bit of context, this was born out of my dear friend @bberetd’s art of Mario, Luigi, Ralph and Felix sharing gelato here in this post and I wrote a story about and since then the lore just grew of which I’ve written in the main lore post. I thought it’ll be a huge homage and tribute of what might happen when Belle meets Luigi on the Internet and became friends as technically she and the other Disney princesses are added to the universe via the second Wreck it Ralph movie.
A huge thank you to my sweet honorary little sister, @silenzahra for giving me permission to let me use her wonderful Bookworm Luigi lore post for inspiration about Luigi and his love for books (please do have a read when you have a chance and be sure to credit her ideas, my dears). And also…I’d like to dedicate this story to her as it’s her birthday today! Happy birthday, darling little sis!
And so I’d like to tag in @beauty-beast-week as my official submission for Day 7 of Beauty and the Beast week.
And without further ado, please enjoy, my dears and I sincerely hope that this expresses how much I love Beauty and the Beast and how much it means to me…
A Tale Of Books, Roses and Friendship
Summary: Takes place in my Super Mario Bros/Wreck It Ralph AU. Luigi goes to a new digital library to find his beloved Daisy the perfect storybook for his gift to her for Book Day in Litwak’s arcade. In doing so, he meets a beautiful bookish Disney princess who becomes his first friend in the Internet over books and roses…
Who knew that Book Day would really take off so well back in the arcade? Ever since Zangief had established his book club, Luigi found himself returning regularly with much enthusiasm, allowing him to broaden his horizons in meeting new friends beyond his game and adopting a welcome absorbing hobby in reading. Partnering with Zangief’s enthusiasm in literature with his newly acquired Internet knowledge and technological skills had helped them come across a plethora of digital libraries for them to peruse their books for these meetings and discover a fascinating annual tradition in a European country where books and roses are given as gifts to their loved ones.
Going to digital libraries on the Internet became something Luigi enjoyed without getting too anxious of being outside of his game for extended periods of time. The green clad plumber had never felt happier that his beloved big brother, favourite bad guy and honorary nephew, respected work colleagues and especially his beloved Daisy would also enjoy reading and helped them become closer than ever before…and this was why this year’s Book Day was to be extra special, marking its fifth successful year since its establishment and there would be a big party to celebrate in the entire arcade tomorrow night.
But there was a hitch…he had already found the perfects book gifts for Mario, Peach, Bowser, Junior, Kamek and the majority of their respected work colleagues…everyone…except for Daisy. He wanted his gift for her to be perfect. He knew she loved fairy tales as she adored delving into the symbolism and lessons they entailed. She had already read through most of them so he had to find a story that was unique…
And this was why he was travelling to the Internet to go to a different digital library outside of their usual scope to see whether he can find more obscure stories that might be the perfect gift for his flower princess. Arriving at the terminal, Luigi immediately went to Knowsmore, who enthusiastically greeted him and already asked him which digital library he was heading off to. The young man chuckled and politely asked him for any specific recommendations for digital libraries that archived fantasy and/or fairy tale e-books.
The wonders (and dangers) of the Internet and technology had always fascinated him but he always relished the physical attributes and aesthetics of the books whenever he’d visit and read in these digital libraries before they’d be converted into pdf files and downloaded to his online avatar on his smartphone, making it easy to carry back home when he’d check them out. Luigi simply lived for the solid weight of the books in his hands and flipping through the pages to immerse himself in magical worlds and meeting fantastical characters visioned in his imagination. The beauty of having these e-books is that upon check out, the pdf files saved to his avatar could be materialised at anytime into physical manifestations of the books he’d read earlier and were available to use for an entire year. If he, his big brother, his friends and his sweetheart really enjoyed the books and wanted to keep a permanent copy instead of letting it be digitally decoded back to its original library, he’d use some of his in-game currency to buy the copies due to a little tinkering in coding and finding purchase loopholes which he cleverly took advantage of instead of using real-life currency. The last thing he wanted would be to give Litwak an unwelcome surprise of unknown purchases of e-books he probably hadn’t read before.
After being initially overwhelmed by the choices offered to him, his ocean blue eyes caught onto a charming name, “A Garden of Roses”…it was an unusual name for a digital library. He looked at the icon. It showed a small row of leather bound books covered in a vine filled with blooming yellow roses…there was something whimsical and enchanting about it…and he felt a shiver of excitement…maybe this would be the place where he could find Daisy’s book gift. After thanking Knowsmore, he pressed on the icon and found himself zooming off to his destination…
Belle always loved coming to “A Garden of Roses” the last whenever the offical Disney website was down for maintenance. It’s her most favourite digital library and it meant that she could have ample time to herself to indulge in reading and finding more additions to her personal library before returning to Disney Princess headquarters.
It also helped that her fellow princesses and best friends were so sweet and supportive of her hobby and even requested recommendations of books they might enjoy. Since then, Belle had known all their genre preferences by heart. Earlier, she had patiently taken down their requests for new e-books before leaving for her usual library visits. She had already travelled to her usual haunts to find e-books she thinks they’d enjoy…
But there was one more e-book she needed to get for: Rapunzel…she smiled tenderly to herself for she had a soft spot for the younger princess and truly adored her art. Rapunzel tended to get the best inspiration from fairy tales and her favourite digital library would be perfect to find her fellow princess’ source material.
Seeing the grand familiar wooden arch lined with many vines of yellow roses in her virtual travelling pod, Belle felt her heart warm and swell as she witnessed some stray rose petals showering above her, sparkling like sunlight…it was like coming to a second home that she treasured…
Feeling the pod disintegrate upon arrival, she savoured the wondrous sights of tall bookshelves shaped as towering trees oak trees, the whimsically painted walls of pastel shades of green, purple and pink and painted motifs of fairies, elves, gnomes and other magical beings weaving in, out and between the shelves like magic. She breathed in the sweet perfume of the roses, the vintage scent of well worn leather and aged paper and an ever present aroma of a strangely tantalising mixture of baked bread and pastries, floral tea, well brewed coffee and rich hot chocolate combined.
Invigorated, Belle politely greeted the digital librarian whose quiet and genteel presence and demeanour that reminded her of a wise and kind queen, located her favourite reading nook and commenced her search for the perfect books while humming a song to herself…
“Wowie zowie…what a beautiful place to be in…”
Luigi trailed a hand reverently over some of the leather bound books on the ornately decorated shelves while in awe of his new surroundings…it reminded him of being in a magical forest…almost similar yet familiar to the green hills and the royal gardens in Peach’s castle back at home in his game. The atmosphere was calm and serene just the way he liked it…perfect to start browsing for some potential titles his beloved princess might like.
He scoured the shelves carefully, sliding his chosen books into a pile. After what it seemed to be ages, so far he had found made quite a tall pile that was about three quarters of his full height standing up. He gazed at the topmost book fondly for it was a collection of Italian fairy tales with beautiful illustrations to accompany the stories…not only did he enjoy reading them with Mario to bond closer together as brothers but it was the first book that he gifted Daisy and because she absolutely loved it, he bought the document for her before its deadline…he didn’t know why he picked this book again when she had already had it in her personal library but it would be good just to read it again for fun.
He swore that he heard someone singing in a lovely voice that could belong to a bluebird as he decided to make an ambitious attempt to pick up his book pile while he stood up…albeit a bit shakily. But just as he was about to take a step forward, his book pile partially obscured his view and Luigi found himself bumping against something very soft and billowy and a surprised “oh” cut off the lovely singing. This caused him to stumble backwards onto his bottom and drop all of his books.
“Owie…” Luigi groaned, slightly dizzy at the impact at being knocked down and inwardly groaned the messy sight of his chosen books strewn around him.
“Oh no, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was looking! Oh my goodness…”
Luigi looked up to find a beautiful young woman before him…she would’ve looked like Daisy if he hadn’t spotted how very fair her skin was or how her off-shoulder golden yellow ballgown sparkled in the lights…she was gathering his fallen books into a neat pile before she turned to him, her hazel eyes filled with kind concern and her golden gloved dainty hand held out to him. She must be a princess, judging from her finery and the demure air she exuded…she reminded him so much of his dearest friend, Peach.
“Oh Monsieur, are you alright? I’m so sorry to have not noticed you sooner with your books. I hope you aren’t hurt…”
Luigi smiled reassuringly as he took her offered hand and allowed himself to be hefted back to his feet carefully. He then gathered some of the books he could reach, “Oh, I’m not hurt at all, I was just surprised. Please don’t worry but it’s very kind of you to think of me.”
“Please let me help you carry some of your books, Monsieur…it’s the least I can do to make up for my mistake,” she insisted as she helped carry the other books almost effortlessly.
Meanwhile, Belle really did awful for bumping into the diminutive young moustachioed man. He looked really kind and gentle and his ocean blue eyes exuded a sparkle that reminded her of diamonds.
“Come, Monsieur, I’d like to share my most favourite reading spot with you with my own books I just picked out…it’s the very least I can do to apologise for bumping into you.”
Luigi was in awe when the princess brought him to one of the reading nooks…it was a cosy looking alcove carved into the pastel painted walls and framed with wooden branches filled with more vines of yellow roses in bloom. Some small wooden tables made out of stumps were nearby at the edges of the alcove. He let out a breathless laugh at the wondrous sight especially with some of the darker shade of yellows that border on looking orange, reminding him of his beloved princess…
“This is beautiful, Your Highness…” Luigi then chuckled nervously while he rubbed the back of his neck, “Oh sorry…I hope it’s not too presumptuous of me to guess that you’re someone of royal status.”
“Oh no, not all, it shows that you’re very observant…and where are my manners?! I didn’t even properly introduce myself. There’s really no need to be to formal with me. My name is Belle.”
“And you don’t need to be so formal with me too…my name’s Luigi…Belle…” Luigi paused for a moment after he placed the last of his books down on one of the sturdy tables situated near the alcove, “It’s French for “Beauty”, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right, Luigi…wait a minute…Luigi…why does your name sound familiar…” Belle paused for a moment and then gasped with a growing smile, “Do you have a brother named Mario, by any chance?”
At this, a pleasant surprised smile spread across his lips under his bushy moustache, “Yes, I do…how do you know about us?”
At this, Belle pulled out her smartphone which had roses decorating its cover. She pressed a button and a hologram appeared, showing a videoclip of them both bundled in a red kart. He was holding onto the metal bar of the speeding vehicle, his other hand ready with with a red Koopa shell while Mario was driving…it was one of the best racing moments because he got to work with his brother and the players always seemed to pick them both nearly all the time, showing how much they adored them and the strong bond they shared…
“You and Mario are getting popular on BuzzTube especially with all these new games coming out…you deeply fascinate me, Luigi…I didn’t know that you love reading…and judging from the pile you have here…you’re new here too…”
Luigi sat down next to the princess, feeling comfortable in her presence. The more he gazed at her, the more he could see her wisdom and kindness shining in her hazel eyes and the way her smile radiated earnest intentions and warmth. It was kind of nice to meet new friends this way especially when they lived outside the arcade and his game.
“Awww…thanks…it’s great that you know about us…and I’ve always enjoyed reading because I love using my imagination to travel to other worlds and getting to understand the characters and their motivations in their stories…and yeah, this is my first time here in this library. I’m actually here to find a storybook gift for Daisy back in my game. She’s a princess just like you.”
“Oh? She sounds like a lovely woman…you must love her very much,” Belle inwardly giggled at the way Luigi nodded shyly in confirmation and blushed at the mention of her name…how charming! She then glanced at his pile, “Have you found what you’re looking for?”
“I think so but I haven’t had a chance to read them to get an impression whether she’d really enjoy them. What about you, Belle? I can see that you really enjoy reading as much as I do,” Luigi then observed that the princess’ pile of books contained more illustrations, each more lovelier than the last, “Oh…are these art books? They’re really impressive!”
“Thank you. Oh yes, other than me wanting to expand my own library back at headquarters, I wanted to find some lovely visual inspirational material for my dear friend and fellow princess, Rapunzel. She loves trying out new styles and genres to challenge her painting skills. She really loves fairy tales and gets her best ideas from there,” Belle explained with some pride.
“Your friend sounds very talented and artistic, Belle…I’m sure she’d appreciate you helping her find things she likes to help her broaden her horizons.”
“And your lady love is so lucky to have someone as wonderful, loving and cultured as you to be thoughtful of her gift,” Belle then took a book from her pile and showed it to him, “Perhaps we can peruse together? I’d like to see what you have in your pile…”
“I’d like that very much indeed….and I’m curious to see what you have there…I’ve never seen art books like these before…” Luigi suggested in turn, taking some books, “It’s the least I can do for you being so kind and hospitable to me.”
Belle smiled softly at how animated Luigi was, the more she talked with him. While she did sense his introverted nature, there’s something so sweet and innocent to see him becoming more confident and engaged as soon as books were involved…it was uplifting to find someone who shared her hobby with the same zest and enthusiasm as she did…
“It’ll be a pleasure and an honour, Luigi…”
Belle and Luigi delved into a long conversation over the books they chose. Sharing rose tea, hot chocolate and a platter of petit fours and madeleines, the friendly atmosphere was filled with hushed whispers, muffled laughter and excited comments over the parts they enjoyed reading, the techniques the authors used to portray their imagery and how their words touched them deep inside. It was as if time stood still for this intimate interaction and it made all the more precious and meaningful for them as they got to know each other better…
“Book Day sounds really wonderful, Luigi…I wonder if I should introduce it to my fellow princesses at some point…”
“It’s never too late to start something new if your friends already enjoy reading, Belle. It definitely brought us closer together and we’re now five years going strong. I still find it simultaneously amusing and annoying in Ralph’s interpretations in the books we read together…and the way he still holds them upside down!”
“Ralph…he comes from your arcade?” this catches Luigi’s attention and his smile widened as he nodded enthusiastically, “Ah that’s right. I would see them together sometimes when he comes to the Internet to visit Vanellope.”
“So you do know Ralph and Vanellope?! What are the odds that my good friends are your acquaintances?” Luigi exclaimed in amazement, his blue eyes filled with incredulity and mischief, “Did Ralph really wear a dress and got kissed by a frog?”
Belle chuckled at the memory, “Yes, he sure did. It was quite a funny sight. But I’m glad I got to know him through Vanellope…imagine my surprise when my friends and I heard she got into Slaughter Race…she does visit us sometimes as she’s still technically a princess and it gives us a nice chance to see her and catch up with her.”
“That is really great to hear Vanellope’s doing well. My reaction is pretty much the same when I heard about it from Ralph. Speaking of which, I sometimes catch Ralph talking to her on his smartphone via video chat…it’s great that they can still be good friends despite being in vastly different games and in different domains…”
“Speaking of games, I’m just so happy that we are now getting featured as actual playable characters rather than just being NPCs in the newer games coming out…I’d love to go on an adventure just like the people do in these stories…it’s a step forward but I do hope that there’ll be more role playing games that allow my friends and I to showcase our talents to the world,” Belle mused as she took another book from her pile.
“I think it’s great that you and your friends are empowering the newer generations…the teaser to the latest game looks really interesting. I sure hope it’ll be successful for you all…” Luigi found himself smiling upon seeing the title of the book he picked up.
“I’m guessing that book must have meant a lot to you, Luigi…” Belle deduced before squinting her eyes slightly to properly read the title, “The Pomegranates and Other Italian Fairy Tales…it sounds so lovely…”
“Oh it is! My brother and I used to read these stories a lot together…or rather I’d be the one narrating them and my brother would listen with rapt attention…” Luigi reminisced fondly before turning to Belle, his smile turning amorous and affectionate, “And it was my first Book Day gift I ever gave to Daisy…I can still remember like it was yesterday…how her eyes glowed with unbridled joy like sunshine and her smile so bright like a rainbow after a storm…her cute dimples showing…this was how she got hooked onto reading…she loves other genres like action and fantasy but she truly adores fairytales the most, especially when I read to her on our book and picnic dates…it was by chance I happen to find it again so I just wanted to read it again for fun.”
“Oh, that is so darling and romantic!” Belle gushed. She couldn’t help feeling sincerely happy for Luigi.
“Yeah, the digital libraries I usually go to didn’t have such a collection of books like this…I really am happy to be here…I get to broaden my horizons beyond my game to seek out new books to read and…to meet wonderful people like you, Belle, who share my passion for books…” at this, Luigi placed the book down to gently caress her hand with reverence and care, “I sincerely hope that the lucky man who courts you will see you beyond your beauty…because…you are more than just beautiful…you are such an intelligent, witty and wise princess and you remind me of a dear friend of mine back at home. You have such a warm heart. I’m so glad to have spent time with you like this…
At this, Belle felt her heart burst with extra fissures of pleasant warmth reminiscent of flames from a bonfire as she gazed at the young man who had become her first friend outside her circle of her fellow princesses. She scooted closer, her heart touched and brimming with limitless joy that some tears appeared in her eyes. She softly gripped back his thick fingers.
“Luigi, I hope I’m not too forward in telling you that I’m having such a marvelous time with you. You’re the first person outside my social circle to treat me with such thoughtfulness and sincerity and…well, seeing me beyond my royal status as a princess and my beauty…I have never met anyone like you. You’re so thoughtful, charming and the most considerate gentleman I’ve ever had the honour of meeting…I…” Belle took a deep breath to compose herself and was about to wipe her tears away but Luigi had beat her to it as he reached up to softly brush them away, his smile understanding and filled with gentle sensitivity, “T-Thank you…”
“Shhh…take your time, Belle…” Luigi soothed, his voice warm and kind, “You really are something special…your friends are so lucky to have you…”
“I think I have said it before…but Daisy is so so fortunate to have you as her beloved…and since you’ve been so accommodating to me, may I suggest this to give to her?”
Belle pulled away and held out a book to Luigi. It showed an intricately detailed illustrated dark indigo blue hard leather cover. A young smiling boy was gazing lovingly at a large blooming red rose in a glass dome while a red fox was playing near him. Shimmering golden inked stars and vines of smaller ruby red roses dotted the remaining space giving it a very fantastical and ethereal vibe. Luigi took it and read the title…
“The Little Prince…” Luigi ran his fingers over the cover with awe before opening it to quickly scan the first few pages…each page was filled with such exquisite illustrations similar to the cover and he’s starting to enjoy the story contained within…he was pretty sure that his princess would appreciate it as much as he did…he gazed back up to Belle in awe.
“This is one of my most favourite stories, Luigi…it teaches so many lessons about finding wisdom in unlikely places, the values of friendship, the unpredictable and passionate nature of love and how true beauty has to be seen with the heart…just like you did…I thought that perhaps she’d like an illustrated version before reading the actual novel...” Belle’s tone turned shy and she curled her fingers nervously on her lap, “And I really hope that we can remain friends after this serendipitous encounter we just have…if you’d like?”
Luigi’s heart stirred in the most achingly pleasant way that made him so content and relaxed. He regarded the princess before him with tenderness…wanting to reciprocate Belle’s magnanimity, he knew which book to give to her to help fuel her friend’s artistic inspiration…
“Thank you, Belle…this is so thoughtful of you. Here…I thought that perhaps your artistic friend would like this…”
Belle took the book from Luigi…she looked at the title which read “The Illustrated Book of Fairy Tales”. She breathed in admiration at the wondrous pictures illustrated on the hardcover…they appeared to be created with such tender love and care…oh, she was sure Rapunzel would adore this…
“I had a quick read when we discussed over our books and I figured that your friend might also enjoy reading about the fairytales’ cultural origins and the symbolism used in the plots…there are even some obscure stories from other countries that might interest her…and the art accompanying them is amazing…oh, also to answer your request earlier,” Luigi beamed gently before taking out his green smartphone, “I’d really love to be your friend too…shall we exchange our contact info and maybe we can take some time to video chat like what Ralph and Vanellope do…if you like?”
Belle’s joyful laugh was soft and breathless as she nodded happily and took out her smartphone. With a few clicks of their buttons, Belle and Luigi were pleased to see each other’s avatars in their devices, solidifying their new blossoming friendship. It was then Luigi glimpsed at the time flashing on his smartphone before flipping it close.
“Wowie, it’s late! I’d better be getting home…Mario, Daisy, Peach, Bowser, Junior…and all of my friends must be wondering where I am,” Luigi moved to help move the books he didn’t want to check out back into the carts nearby, “Time really passes by quickly with good company.”
Belle chuckled charmingly as she did the same with her books, “Oh I certainly most agree, Luigi…oh…I’d like to give this to you…to mark our first meeting as friends…”
She reached out to carefully pluck a fully bloomed dark yellow rose from the nearest vine and held out it with another book to Luigi who took the items carefully. He breathed in its lovely fragrance and scanned the book title. He smiled with delight.
“I’ve been meaning to read “The Hobbit” before delving on the Lord of the Rings trilogy…if I ever get them, that is…thank you for this, Belle…and here,” it was Luigi’s turn to hold out a book to her, “This is for you in return to remember me by…”
Belle’s smile softened upon receiving the book from Luigi graciously…it was the same compilation of Italian fairy tales he had shown earlier when they first met. The green clad plumber then reached up to the closest vine and gently plucked a yellow rose close to the lovely shade of her ballgown.
“You are just so sweet, Luigi…I shall treasure your gift always…”
Holding the flower out to her, Luigi’s eyes were warm with genial kindness and affection as he passed it to her and kissed the back of her hand with chivalry. Belle then leaned down to chastely peck his cheek while accepting the rose to reciprocate his considerate gesture.
“Allow me to escort you back to the departure terminal after we check out our books, Luigi…”
“I’d really like that, Belle…”
It didn’t take long for the two new friends to download their e-books into their devices upon check out and made their way to the departure terminal that would help Luigi head back to the wifi router back in Litwak’s arcade. The pair already had made plans to have their first video chat to check up on each other on the weekend and they were already anticipating with nervousness and excitement combined.
“Will you message me when you’re back in your game, Luigi? I just want to make sure you that you’re home safely.”
“Of course I will, Belle…I’ll message you the moment I’m back to give you peace of mind. I’m very touched that you think of me so dearly…and thank you for the rose…it’s been a magical meeting for us…”
“Likewise, my dear friend…thank you for the rose too…”
The green clad plumber had carefully tucked his rose into his front pocket of his overalls while the princess had arranged her rose into her hair. Luigi exhaled with some melancholy as he looked back up to Belle who looked just as saddened as he was…
“Have a safe journey home, Luigi.”
Luigi reached out to hold her hands, his thumbs running over her knuckles. Belle stroked his palms in return, savouring how warm and solid his gloved hands were.
“Take care of yourself, Belle…I’ll be looking forward to our first video chat like we promised this coming weekend…”
Belle nodded, feeling her deflated spirits lift slightly. She had something to look forward to with her new friend. She smiled sincerely, causing Luigi to release a bit of his sorrow at their parting as evidenced by his ocean blue eyes brightening with a small sparkle.
Their hands finally separated as Luigi made his way to one of the virtual launch pads in the departure terminal. Luigi maintained eye contact with the princess as long as he could as a digital travel pod encapsulated his being and shot him high and fast upwards. He managed a little wave and was elated to see her wave back. He cupped the yellow rose poking out of his chest pocket protectively and close to his heart as he maintained his balance in his pod as best as he could while travelling back to the arcade. His smile turned a bit determined and a warmth filled his heart…he did have a promise to keep to Belle to let her know he got home safely…
It took a long contemplative stroll for Belle to center herself before returning to Disney Princess headquarters. She had already missed the young plumber’s comforting presence and her heart throbbed in sadness, threatening to steal her breath away in sobs. But as she recalled his gentle touches on her hand, his friendly smile and the books and yellow rose he wholeheartedly gifted her in the name of their blossoming friendship, she took the initiative to take some deep breaths to calm herself down and bring her smile back before returning to headquarters to greet her fellow princesses who welcomed her back.
After downloading the e-books into their physical manifestations, she eventually changed back into her honey yellow comfy outfit before reconvening with the other princesses (she and her friends really couldn’t thank Vanellope enough for the idea to have comfy clothes in between showcases, quizzes, videos and public appearances). Bringing the pile to their newly formed pillow pad, the other princesses thanked Belle and excitedly received their requested books. The bookish princess savoured her friends’ ecstatic beams and twinkling eyes filled with wonder as they flipped through and shared their books with each other in smaller pairs or groups. She smiled upon seeing Rapunzel eagerly crawling towards her. The younger princess was clutching her sketchbook and pencil close to her while her golden hair trailed behind her.
“Hey Belle, have you found anything interesting?” Rapunzel locked Belle in a brief snuggle before leaning back. Then her green eyes flicked up to Belle’s hair and they widened in admiration, “That yellow rose is so pretty…you always look good with roses, can I sketch you with it? Who gave it to you?”
Belle was about to respond to her query when her smartphone vibrated. Her heart jumped with excitement as she flipped it open with Rapunzel cuddling up to her. She giggled happily at the sight of the little green cap with an L icon and eagerly read the message highlighted in green text.
“Hello Belle, I made it back to my game safe and sound. Everyone, especially Mario and Bowser were a bit worried that I was gone for so long but they’re assured after I told them what happened and I was fine. I meant what I said that it’s been an honor to have met you and becoming your dear friend is one of the greatest adventures in the Internet I ever had. Thank you for the books you gave me; I know I’m going to enjoy “The Hobbit” and Daisy is sure to love “The Little Prince” and it’s all thanks to you…I’m really looking forward to our planned video chat this weekend because by then I’ll have lots of stories to share with you. Please take care of yourself and if you chance upon Vanellope, do let her know that myself, Mario and everyone back home in the arcade are sending her our regards. I hope that you and your friends enjoy the books. Best wishes, Luigi.’
“Oh Luigi…thank goodness he got home safely…” Belle felt her heart relax in relief for her new friend.
“Luigi…wait…isn’t that the cute green plumber we often see on BuzzTube with his handsome brother?” upon Belle’s nod of confirmation, Rapunzel’s oohed and squealed, her eyes sparkling, “You got to meet him, Belle?! I’m so jealous! He’s the one who gave you the rose?! You’re so lucky!”
“Ah, he chose this for you because he thinks you’ll like it, my dear. Here, Rapunzel…this is yours.”
“Oh my gosh! This is so amazing!” the long haired princess grabbed Belle in a huge bear hug before taking the book to rifle through the pages enthusiastically and starting to sketch in her book, “These illustrations are gorgeous! I’ll be having a ball with this! Thank you, Belle and Luigi!”
Belle chuckled at her friend’s excited antics and momentarily brushed her fingers against the soft velvety petals of the yellow rose in her hair. Then she turned to the book of Italian fairytales on her lap and her smile turned tender and fond…her eyes avidly traced the elegant cursive script and the pretty fairies carrying some pomegranates gracing the cover lovingly. She quickly sent back a reply to the message on her device to let Luigi know that she received it and that she’s looking forward to their video chat…then she pressed the book against her chest, imagining she’s giving the young plumber another hug.
With a content sigh, Belle opened the book, ready to delve into her journey of whimsical fantasy in amidst the animated chattering of her fellow princesses…
Luigi hummed with satisfied approval at the books all tied with green satin ribbons with red roses tucked under them and nestled against the covers, all filed neatly in the wicker baskets sitting on his bed. He usually kept these wicker baskets out of sight either in his cupboard or under his bed where he had quite a lot of space for them. He couldn’t wait for everyone to find his embossed personalised letters he had written for them for them, which were hidden between the pages of their books. Nearly all of his gifts were ready for tomorrow’s big Book Day party once the arcade would be closed for the night.
Then he turned to the last book and his eyes softened along with his smile...this was going to be extra special. He slid in the embossed envelope containing his sweet love letter to his beloved princess into the book with ease. Then with loving care, he tied a satin yellow and green striped ribbon to secure the book and slid the biggest red rose under the bow carefully, chuckling at the adorable sight of the illustrated little prince’s face looking like he’s peeking among the ruby petals. The last touch was to add a small flower crystal trinket to accent the bow, making it look really pretty.
He was about to place the book onto one of the piles when he felt his smartphone vibrate. A gentle joyful laugh burst out of him as he quickly flipped it open and immediately recognised the yellow rose and book icon…it was Belle. His ocean blue eyes glanced enthusiastically at the message written in golden yellow text.
“Dearest Luigi, I am so glad and relieved that you got home safely to your loved ones. I can’t thank you enough for the books you recommended me. My friend, Rapunzel really loved it, thanks to you. And I share the same sentiments as you do…I am so thrilled to have met you in this meeting and am so proud to call you a dear friend to me. I’ll definitely be looking forward to this weekend to have our video chat as planned. I’ll also have lots of stories to tell you too especially with all these online events coming up. I’ll definitely send Vanellope your well wishes the moment I see her or when she comes to visit. I hope you have a wonderful Book Day and please take care of yourself. Best wishes, Belle…”
Luigi’s smile was warm when he closed his smartphone and placed it back into his overalls pocket. He was going to have lots of good things to look forward to especially with his bedtime reading with “The Hobbit” of which the book was lying on his bedside table beside a small glass vase that housed the beautiful yellow rose…the lovely reminders of being friends with a unique bookish princess he had the pleasure of meeting.…
A soft call from Mario accompanied by a gentle knock on their shared bedroom door alerted Luigi to quickly place the last of his gifts in the nearest basket, hefted them onto the floor to cover them with a green and white checkered cloth and then slid them under his bed…he didn’t want his big brother to find his Book Day gift too soon.
He grinned at the red clad plumber at the doorway as soon as the deed was done, “Hey Mario, what’s going on?”
“Dinner’s ready when you are, little bro…I made your favourite tonight.”
Luigi sniffed the air and recognised the delicious aroma wafting in. He grinned with delight, “Creamy mushroom pasta, big bro?”
Mario chuckled, “I made extra just for you, Lu…come on…”
Luigi felt his heart warm…although they both knew that the younger plumber was the supreme chef between them, it didn’t stop Mario from learning some pasta dishes and he turned out to be quite decent at cooking when he put his mind to it. The act of Mario cooking for him just made it all the more enjoyable to savour during mealtimes. He looked back to take one more glance at the beautiful yellow rose that was now glowing in a golden aura under the warmth of his bed lamp light…
“Belle? Is she a new friend of yours?”
“Yeah, she is…I’ll tell you more over dinner, bro…”
Not wanting to waste his big brother’s culinary efforts, he joined the other plumber’s side…ready for a long conversation into the night to satisfy Mario’s curiosity while looking forward to delving into his reading later for his new adventure into Hobbiton…
“Here, Lu…have some Yoshi cookies and a nice mug of Fire Flower herbal tea to warm you up while you’re chatting with your friend…”
Luigi bookmarked the page he was reading and smiled gratefully at Mario as the older plumber carefully laid a small full tray filled with treats on the coffee table near him. Mario poured the tea into his green mug and handed it carefully to his brother. He inhaled the sweet spicy fragrance of the freshly brewed Fire Flower herbal tea and gazed at the swirling amber and orange liquid glimmering in gold and violet ripples remaining in the glass teapot under the soft lamp lights.
“Is it okay? I added some honey just the way you like it.”
Luigi took a sip, savouring the warmth spreading through him and enjoying the soft intensity of lingering sweetness swimming on his tongue, “It’s perfect…thank you, big bro…you’re just too good to me.”
“Ah, anything for my little bro to be cosy…” Mario leaned down to nuzzle against his forehead lovingly, “You keep surprising me with those Book Day gifts, little bro…thanks for the new addition to my graphic novel collection. I’m going to enjoy reading it very much, Lu.”
“Awww, I’m really glad that you like it very much, Mario.”
“How far are you in “The Hobbit” now?”
Luigi showed him the aforementioned book, “I’m just at the exciting part where Bilbo is lost in a dark cave and has found a mysterious ring…I really need to thank Belle for giving me this to read…”
“And I’m sure she’d love to hear about your progress,” Mario then glanced at his watch under his red sleeve.
“You going out now, big bro?”
“Yeah, little bro…I promised Bowser I’d take care of Junior while he goes for his Bad Anon meeting. I’m planning take the little monello to Peach’s castle so that he can also spend time with her too for a baking lesson…he loves the way she makes her strawberry cake ever since she came back from the Sparkle Theatre…are you sure you’re going to be okay, little bro?”
“I’ll be fine, big bro…I won’t be going anywhere. You have fun with Junior and Peach. And please let Bowser know that it’ll be mine and Daisy’s turn to look after little monello tomorrow since he’s going out with Ralph and Zangief for some bonding time.”
“Alright, I’ll be going and I’ll let Bowser know about tomorrow…just don’t stay up too late, okay, Luigi?”
Mario then placed a gentle kiss on Luigi’s forehead as a tender parting before he left and locked the door behind him. Luigi sighed contentedly while relishing in the serene silence and sipping more of the sweet herbal tea and sampled a Yoshi cookie which tasted divine, sweet and buttery with perfect crunchiness. He briefly wondered whether Belle would like to try this tea and the cookies the next time they’d meet. Then placing his mug back in place on the table, he hugged his treasured book close and glanced at his smartphone…his smile was tinged in nervousness and excitement…it’d be five more minutes before their chat would start…
“Oh Belle… I wonder how she’s doing…”
“Oh Rapunzel…your art seems to become more beautiful and dazzling, the more I gaze at it,” Belle gushed as she hugged the younger princess with a warm smile, “Thank you for decorating my bedroom walls so splendidly, Rapunzel…”
Rapunzel gushed happily as she hugged her back before breaking away and twirling with delight at her dear friend’s praise. A painted masterpiece decorated the walls of her bedroom…a magnificent apple tree graced the wall where the headboard of her four poster bed was situated against it.
A particularly large branch arched over the bed with several ruby red apples hanging off it, which the largest one with a lovely varnished sheen was close to her bedside…a lush garden landscape spread all over the walls of which there were golden basins of graceful arches of sparkling water radiating in rainbow glows in the painted sunlight and a magnificent raven was perched nearby on a white marble fountain, its large black eyes glimmering with cunning and its black feathers glossy with vitality. Among the flowers were also three children playing together…two boys were carrying an apple each while the little girl had a golden star sparkling on her forehead, their eyes filled with joy and love for each other. Near the three children were three beautiful fairies watching over them tenderly, their wise faces framed with flower crowns and their slender statures wearing finery befitting royalty.
Belle lovingly ran a hand against the painted girl’s rosy cheek as she glanced at the book she held lovingly in her arms.
“I’m so thrilled that you’re taken with my latest masterpiece, Belle…and you’re welcome!”
“How wonderful of you to bring my favourite Italian fairytale to life, Rapunzel. You’ve outdone yourself, my dear. The children especially look so realistic…it’s as if I’m there with them in spirit…”
“Awww…you know me…I always wanted to push myself on how far my painting skills go. Ah! I also added in an extra surprise.”
“Yeah, Cinderella and Tiana helped me with it…look…”
The golden haired princess reached to the large apple and pressed it gently. At once, melodic music filled the air and Belle had to smile…
“A real singing apple? Is that why Cinderella has been asking me what favourite music I’ve been listening to help me fall asleep?”
“Yeah and Tiana helped me to set up the hidden stereo system before I painted it over it. Oh here, Belle…you can press this hidden button here to change tracks and you can even connect your smartphone via Bluetooth if you want to stream your music online.”
Belle took out her smartphone and easily connected it to Rapunzel’s instructions. She felt her heart warm at the sweet gesture as she switched off the music by pressing the apple again.
“You are a gem, Rapunzel.”
“Actually you should thank Luigi, Belle…he’s the one who started it all and it’s thanks to his book recommendation that I was able to do all this…can you pass him my thanks when you call him?”
“I will…and speaking of which,” Belle checked the time on her smartphone before climbing into bed with her book, “He’ll be calling me in five minutes…I should get ready.”
“Oh wait, don’t forget to have some chocolat chaud and some madeleines I just made just for you…thought they might help lighten the mood when you talk to Luigi.”
Belle’s eyes softened at the sight of the tray on her bedside table, laden with the mentioned goodies.
“You are just so good to me, my dear…thank you…”
“Awww…anything for you, Belle. Have fun, sweetie.”
After Rapunzel departed to join her other fellow princesses, Belle added some whipped cream to her drink and took a sip, humming at the rich dark chocolate running so smoothly down her tongue…then the princess settled herself against her plush pillows, pondering whether Luigi would love to try this decadent beverage and pastries if he were to visit her…
She glanced nervously at her smartphone while hugging the precious book close to her beating heart before taking a deep breath. She located Luigi’s avatar…thrilled to see it online, she pressed the call button…
Luigi softly gasped in surprise upon feeling his device vibrate and Belle’s avatar appeared on the screen. The young plumber willed his hands to stop shaking from overflowing excitement and pressed the accept button.
His laugh was breathless and his eyes twinkled upon seeing Belle’s holographic bust materialise.
Belle’s smile was warm and her hazel eyes glimmered shyly, “Luigi…hello…I’m so happy to see you again…”
“Hi to you too…I was expecting you, Belle…you look well…look…”
He held up his book and beamed upon seeing her smile widen, “”The Hobbit” is so amazing like you said it would be. I can’t wait to tell you how Book Day went!”
Belle chuckled joyfully at the sight of Luigi ecstatically holding up the book she recommended him. In turn, she also held up the book she treasured since their meeting.
“And I can’t wait to tell you how I came to love these Italian fairy tales and how my dear friend Rapunzel loved the book you recommended her.”
“That is so amazing, Belle…I’m glad that our stories have intertwined to bring us together like this…let’s enjoy this night together.”
The princess smiled sincerely at Luigi’s holographic bust, taking in the kind sparkle in his eyes and his small grin under his bushy moustache…
“Yes…let’s do that, Luigi. I have all night to share my stories with you.”
