It gets dark. The party celebrating Kork's purification is very agitated and animated, everyone having lots of fun: eating, drinking, dancing, singing, telling jokes, chatting… All is at peace. Except for Peach. She tries to mingle, but she's definitely not in the mood for parties. Now that Kork's saved, her thoughts turn, stronger than ever, to Mario and Luigi.
When the chance comes, she walks away the place and climbs on a tall rocky formation. Thus, she sees, far away, a vast area of dark land. The land's main feature is a big castle, apparently impenetrable, as dark as the land. Peach unfolds a map, confirms the dark territory's location and keeps staring to there, serious and decided.
—Princess, what are you doing alone here?—asks Lip, she, Held and Ikki coming too. —Let's go back to the party!
But she doesn't reply, not even notice them. She keeps staring at the black earth. Held and Lip also climb on the rock and look in the same direction.
—If you allow me—begins the phoenix—, why are you staring so much to that place, lady?
—Because I'll go there.
—Why?
—I must save my sons.
—Do you have sons? Awww, how cute!—says the craftswoman, dreamily, her eyes getting puppy and gleaming. —Little princes! When can I meet them?
—Well, they aren't my sons, actually—explains the princess, turning her attention to them—, but it's as if they were. It's been a year I've helping their family to raise them. They're so handsome and cute babies—her eyes also gleaming and getting puppy—, but now they are trapped in that scary place!
—Princess, that territory belongs to Bowser Koopa—clarifies Ikki. —He's the regent there, but he's only a child now. The real ruler there is Kamek, the Magikoopa.
—Magikoopa!—exclaims Peach, knocking her fist on the palm of the other hand. —So his name's Kamek! He was the one who captured Mario and Luigi!
—Mario and Luigi are the children's names?—questions Held.
—Yes. Merlon, the mage, told me a Magikoopa ordered to kidnap them before they get home 'cause he foresaw they will be, in the future, Mushroom Kingdom's heroes and will crush the Koopa family! It can only be this Kamek person!
—I got it now—concludes the phoenix. —To prevent this, Kamek captured them. And if he did this, it's because he plans to do the same he's doing to Bowser: raise them for evil.
—Never!—contradicts Peach. —I'll leave for there—points to the dark horizon—tomorrow!
—We understand your rush, Highness, but you must calm yourself down. Tomorrow, we'll give you all necessary supplies and equipment to get in Bowser's domain. You won't leave bare-handed like when you left the Castle. We'll give you all help needed—assures Held.
—Let's go back to the party, Princess!—invites the girl, animated, pulling the regent by her hand. Smiling with new hope, Peach companions them back.
