"Hey, Chet, three supremes on the double!"

"You got it, sir!"

Not only had Pipe Dude managed to hire the kingdom-renowned chef, Chet Frogg, but M 'n' L Pizza had finally closed a couple weeks ago, eliminating the Pizza Palace's chief competition. Business had been booming, and the place was totally packed with customers on a daily basis. PD was practically raking in the cash as a sizable chunk of the profits was funneled straight into his salary. He was loving every second of it.

Most of the phones were still ringing, but Pipe Dude's break had finally begun. A couple fleet-footed Shoombas ran over and started taking orders in his place, while a Frogg sped into the dining room to check on the customers eating in. The sunglasses-wearing young man adjusted his neon orange hat and started out the door, eager to stop by the local sub shop for a bite to eat, when suddenly...

"GWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Instinctively, he dove for cover behind the counter. What was that big ugly brute doing rampaging so close? Mowser almost never stopped by Roqueplot directly; apparently attacking his rival's hometown was beneath him. (Then again, it might have had something to do with the fact that the town was already under near-constant siege from that crazy pyromaniac and that crazier bat monster.)

The doors to the Pizza Palace were kicked open by the massive Doopa's spiked foot. "Where is he?!" Mowser roared. "Where's that orange-hatted moron?!"

Pipe Dude nearly squeaked with fear. What did that big lug want with him? He couldn't fight in the slightest, and he was never all that close to his brother...what worth could he possible have? Was Mowser after his cash? He felt his anger rising again at the thought...but another eardrum-rattling roar from the reptilian monster squashed it back into cowardice.

"Well?!" Mowser growled. His monochrome red eyes scanned the staff, all frozen in fear, and after a few tense seconds, he snarled and gave a heavy, disgusted sigh. "What a little baby," he said with a derisive chuckle. Mowser gave one final scan of the crowd before turning around and heading out the door, but not before tearing his claws through the wall, leaving several large gashes.

When it seemed safe, Pipe Dude slowly rose from behind the counter. He was suddenly painfully aware of all the eyes on him, and immediately, he stood up straight and shot them all his best apathetic stare from behind his dark shades. When he thought he had them all once again in awe of his sheer coolness, he walked as calmly as possible out the door, breaking into a nervous jog as soon as he was out of the restaurant's line of sight.