The dead toad had caused much mayhem and horror among the party patrons. The party had to be stopped and the dead toad's body had to be claimed by the family, who came in with tears. After that, the party died off and the feeling of sadness still lingered in the lobby. No one knew how he had died. Someone had just tripped over his corpse. It was a horrible way to leave and a dark veil hung suspended over the foyer.

The group was in Thyme's room. Peach held a pink handkerchief to her eyes, drying up her tears. She sat next to Thyme, who sat still, staring at the floor. Daisy sat next to her sister, one arm over her shoulders. Mario and Luigi paced the floor, walking back and forth slowly. It was night now. The sky was black and filled with stars.

"I don't see how that could have happened." Mario said. "It couldn't have been Bowser. He likes to make a loud entrance, and this attack was made swiftly and quietly."

"Maybe it was a new villain." Luigi suggested.

Mario shook his head. "I doubt it. We would've gotten some foreshadow or something."

"I can't believe it happened…" Peach sobbed.

Mario sat by her and put a hand on her waist. "Aw, don't worry Peachy."

"Well, maybe it wasn't that much of an outside force." Luigi suddenly said. "Maybe the toad drank a little too much and cut himself in that way. He could've fell while in his drunk-state and landed on broken glass or something."

"Well," Mario began, but he stopped. "…Maybe that is what happened. It makes sense to me, and I can't think of anything better."

Peach looked up. "Yes…It does make sense."

Daisy got up and brushed the skirt of her dress. "Now that we've figured out the answer, let's go. Thyme needs to sleep." She then bent over to hug her sister. "Sorry for the horrible incident. Not a very good way to introduce you to the Mushroom Kingdom."

Thyme weakly smiled and hugged Daisy back. "Oh, it's no big deal." She half-lied. "I can't wait for tomorrow."

With reassuring apologies, they left the room, with Daisy turning off the lights. Thyme sighed and removed her shoes and socks. Her dress was comfortable enough, so she decided to sleep in it. Either way, she seemed to be tired from that horrible death. A shiver crawled up her spine, and then she lay down. Even though she wrapped the blanket tightly around her body, Thyme still felt shivers break out all over her body. That horrible image of the diamond cut into that poor toad's neck. So neatly stabbed in, red and no mess. Then a thought jumped out of the darkest corners of her mind. What if it wasn't glass? Glass cuts are usually more jagged and bloody. The cut on his neck was so carefully cut. What sick person would do that?

Get some sleep, Thyme. She said to herself, forcing her earlier thoughts back. Eventually, she settled into a deep, but wary sleep.

Thyme woke up in a cold sweat the next morning. As opposed to being doused in chills the night before, now a hot feeling replaced it. She still had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. It was morning now. Weak rays flooded in and cast a pink glow in the green room. Thyme got up slowly and rubbed her head. Sighing, she stood up and staggered over to her dresser and pulled out her green shirt and shorts. She pulled off her dress and out on the shirt and shorts. While putting her shoes on, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Thyme said. The door opened and Daisy's head popped in.

"Good morning." Daisy said, a smile on her face like nothing happened yesterday. "You ready to go sightseeing?"

Thyme nodded and smiled weakly.

Daisy entered the room fully and closed the door. "You okay? Look, about yesterday—"

"Oh don't worry," Thyme said quickly. "It's okay."

Daisy believed her fake reassurance. "Well, Peach is getting ready for a tour of the Mushroom Kingdom reaches. After some nice breakfast, we can go."

Thyme simply nodded again. Maybe some food would ease the churning in her stomach.

Thyme followed Daisy out of the room. Going down the stairs, wonderful smells starting wafting up towards the two. It was breakfast. Daisy led Thyme into the dining room. Inside was a long table with a white tablecloth draped over it. There were many chairs placed around the perimeter of it. At one end, Peach sat in large almost throne-like chair while Mario and Luigi sat on either sides of her. Daisy sat next to her boyfriend, Luigi and Thyme sat next to Mario.

"Good morning!" Peach said, smiling. "We have a lot of food for breakfast!"

"I will have some pancakes, please. With some syrup and butter on top." Thyme said.

A toad in a servant uniform walked out holding a platter covered with a metal dome. He set it in front of her, and lifted up the covering. On the plate were pancakes, syrup and butter on top. Thyme took her fork and cut a piece of her food and put it in her mouth. It was good, and it helped her stomach, but only a little.

"So, we are going to the Mushroom Kingdom. When you are done, we can go on ahead."

Thyme nodded and kept eating. She felt saying nothing was good.

The breakfast was short-lived. Thyme ate her meal quickly, then got up and left with the group. They started out of the Mushroom Castle.

"After we pass the royal grounds, I believe Toad Town is first." Peach explained. "The royal grounds, of course, are the reaches of my castle property. While small, it is quite lively."

They were passing into the Castle Square now. It was just at the foot of the castle. It was a tiny village where, Thyme guessed, the guards and special toads lived. It was nice in Thyme's eyes. The floor was made of stone bricks that made elaborate patterns. A small path with houses on either side lead to a small square, where a fountain with a statue of Princess Peach in it sprayed water in three different directions. The plaza was lively and many toads were walking around, talking. Some looked over to the group and waved happily before returning to their chores. In front of the castle and near the small Castle Square was a lake. A couple of wooden docks were placed at its coat and some toads were fishing in it. They passed the square and they went up a slight upwards incline on a hill. They passed under an arch that said in bold letters on it CASTLE SQUARE. Then they were in the Mushroom Fields. A worn out path snaked through the hills of grass. "Not too far from here is Toad Town." Peach said. "It's a small town full of well, toads." Everyone in the group laughed.

They reached Toad Town. It was a small town and toads were walking around. Medium-sized houses were placed all over the sides of the very wide path going through the town.

So, the group toured the Toad Town, meeting important toads and eventually stopping in a café for quick lunch. While talking and chatting, they all forgot about the murder incident. Even Thyme did, and her bubbling stomach feeling had ebbed away. Then eventually, they all packed up and started their journey home, saying goodbye to some. As they traveled through the Mushroom Fields, the familiar scene of the sun setting bathed the hills and sky. Before they stepped foot onto the Castle Square, many toads came and swarmed Princess Peach feet. They screamed her name and pointed to the plaza of the Castle Square. Toads were gathered around something, just like the scene in the castle yesterday. When they went to investigate, a dead toad body was laying on the floor.

And in his neck was a bloody diamond, neatly cut.

Thyme gasped, and she felt Daisy's hand on her shoulders. "You'd best go back to the castle, Thyme. We'll take care of this." Thyme was glad to take her advice. She didn't walk up to the castle, she ran fast. She opened the door quickly and shut it behind her. Running a hand through her green hair, she walked now, slowly, to her room. When she got there and opened the door, she screamed. A servant quickly came in to her aid. Before he could ask what, he shared her same reaction. The room was a mess. Sheets were thrown everywhere and the wall was ripped in many places. "I-I'll go get help!" He stammered, and scurried down the stairs. Thyme trudged through the mess. While she did this, she stepped on something. She lift her foot and checked what it was. It was the picture of her parents. And cut into the glass was a diamond.

Thyme felt her eyes roll back and she fell on the floor.