2026 - The Toed Sthuul Kingdom, or The Toadstool Kingdom
Pushing the door open, Mario did so slowly, faced the ground and in case of disappointment, he asked, "Peach?" There was no answer, but there was a shuffling, of footsteps. Looking up, Mario's eyes widened as he saw her - blonde hair, long pink dress, an amulet around her neck. It was her, Princess Peach. She smiled at him. He smiled back. She was just as beautiful as ever. It had been thirty-one years. Thirty-one years since they had seen each other. Mario had no clue what to say. They were both old now. Forty-nine years old. Yet he knew the moment he looked into her eyes that they still loved each other more than anything.
"Kamek was needed. He was everything the Koopahari has been crying out for. He was... a God. Not the God we deserved - the God we needed. Nothing less than magician, casting..."
The citizens of Minus World all stopped when the declaration from their elusive leader came out. Queen Jaydes was hardly ever seen, well, so was most of the Minus World for that matter. There was a sound of cracking, splintering and before the shaydes a purple crown shape appeared, but quickly disintegrated.
"But I knew Kamek, I was his... mentor. And it will be a long time before somebody challenges the dimensions like he did. I believed in Kamek."
Then her voice faded once more.
On the Rogueport docks, three Shy Guys were guarded by the local police. Next to them was a nervous violet-skinned man. A Toad, flanked by his sailors stood in front a giant ship. It was the Starshroom Enterprise. "Tatanga, I'm Dane Toad," said the main Toad. Tatanga, nervous, merely nodded, his purple brow furrowing. Dane handed the officers a briefcase, full of money.
"He wasn't alone," said an officey. Dane, confused, looked at the Shy Guys and turned to Tatanga.
"You don't get to bring friends," he flatly said.
"They are not my friends," shivered Tatanga.
"Don't worry, no charge for them," chuckled an officer.
"Why would I want them?" asked Dane.
"They were trying to nab your prize," grinned the officer. "They work for the X-Nauts."
"Grodus?" asked Dane, his eyes widened. After Delfino Isle had fired on the Arctic Abyss and decimated the nation of Nautical, the X-Nauts had scattered and become a terrorist force. Turning to his men, Dane motioned for them. "Get them on the ship!" None of the Toads were gentle in their handling of the prisoners, the X-Nauts had choked the life out of the Koopahari several times over. If they could get to Grodus and finally put an end to him, it would be better for all life. Eventually the Starshroom Enterprise started sailing and Dane threw the first hooded man down by the plank. Pulling out a sword, Dane asked, "What are you doing in the middle of my operation?" The hooded man moved his handcuffs a little, but said nothing. "The plan I've registered with the Mushroom King lists me, my crew, Tatanga and only one of you. First one to talk gets to stay on my ship!" He placed his sword at the back of one man's neck. "Tell me about Sir Grodus!" No response. Nothing! This was frustrating. "A lot of loyalty for a hired gun," remarked Dane.
"Or perhaps he's wondering why someone would stab a man before throwing him off a ship," suggested one man in a hood.
"At least you talk," sighed Toad. "Okay wiseguy, who are you?"
"No one cared who I was until I took the scepter," said the man. It was then Toad realized the man's voice was electronic, modulated. Pulling off the mask, Dane almost stumbled back at the sight. Yellow spectacles, black face armour and a blue plating covering machinery. Behind the glasses the man's eyes were cold. This was Sir Grodus. Once the ruler of the most powerful nation alive, now just a terrorist. Albeit a powerful one, his attacks against Crocodile Isle had nearly destroyed it. "We are the X-Nauts and you are instrumental to our plan."
"If I break the glass, will you die?" asked Toad.
"Painfully."
"Was being caught part of your plan?" asked Toad.
"Of course," chuckled Grodus. "Tatanga refused our offer in favor of yours. We had to know what he had told you about us!"
"Nothing! I said nothing!" interjected the purple man.
"Why not just ask him?" interrogated Toad.
"He would not have told us," answered Grodus.
"I need him healthy."
Clearly in regards to Toad he had no such inhibitions. Many of Toad's men, and one woman, Chanterelle, looked nervous as they peered over the railings. Several smaller ships housing X-Naut soldiers were coming up across the side. Ladders hit the Starshroom Enterprise from each side, X-Naut soldiers deploying themselves over the railings and onto the ship. Chanterelle spun around, it was the last thing she did. Several Toads were executed in seconds, turning around to face Grodus Toad stepped back as he saw the big man out of his handcuffs. Instead there was a scepter in them and in the next instant Dane Toad was dead. Summoning the magic of the scepter, Sir Grodus lit the Starshroom Enterprise ablaze, grabbed Tatanga by the neck and prepared to leave.