Peach and Ikki run through the corridors and climb stairs until reach a fork. Two giant Hammer Bros. await them there.
—OUTTA THE WAY!—she shouts, seeming bigger than the enemies. Both are hit on the gut by the heels of her shoes, leaving them fallen on the ground, contorting and groaning in pain. They continue going left and climb more stairs, which they meet two Boomerang Bros. waiting on the last step. The enemies throw their weapons, but uselessly: Peach repels two and Ikki the other two boomerangs, leaving them vulnerable to the princess' and the bird's attacks.
Going on, the pair turns right on another fork and climbs one more stair, arriving at the throne room's entrance. The same nasty and black substance which polluted Kork's water and soil covers the door. There's also four Baseball Guys guarding it.
Suddenly, two giant heads rocket out of the trash and attack Peach and Ikki. The two manage to dodge and fight back: the bird flaps its wings, causing a strong gale, knocking out the baseball-batted guys and paralyzing the trash heads. The princess draws out the stone and jets water at the slimy enemies' mouths, making them contort in pain and dive back in the substance, which starts to melt, revealing the throne room's door. Decided, Peach opens it and walks in the place, along with Ikki.
Sat on the throne is what looks like an infant turtle, exhaling a bossy and arrogant air. At the right side and on feet, there's also a turtle, but taller and completely covered by light blue cloak and hood. The child turtle raises an eyebrow when notices the "intruders".
—Who are you?—asks the infant.
—It is I who's supposed to ask this!—replies Peach. —Explain yourselves!
—Hey, who do you think you're talking with?—questions the child, standing up on the throne, indignant.
—I'm Princess Peach, ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom! I order you to tell me who you are!
—Bowser and Kamek—reveals Ikki. Peach looks surprised from the phoenix to the child sat on the throne, then to the blue light figure beside.
—So it's you! The one who kidnapped Mario and Luigi!
—That's right, Princess—confirms the Magikoopa, taking the lead. —Now that you found out who I am and what I did, what will you do?
—Make you give my babies back, of course!
—Impossible, they're too far from here now, in our homeland.
—So it was just a trap to make the princess come here?—Ikki asks.
—Yes—answers the wizard. —I just didn't foresee you could come too, phoenix. On the other hand, this is very good. I can make you pay for murdering King Growser!
Once again, Peach looks in shock from Ikki to Kamek. Was Growser Bowser's father? Was Ikki responsible for leaving the child sat on the throne fatherless?
—Besides Growser have started a useless war against Kork, it was death or life battle—justifies the phoenix.
—Who is Growser, Ikki?
—He was the king of the dark land we saw yesterday. Months ago, he sent Koopas to take over the mountain and slay its inhabitants. There was war and we won. He and I fought and, in the end, I threw him into one of the lava pits of his own territory, thus ending the war.
—As a payback—reveals Kamek—, I created the dark substance and sent it to finish Kork. It would work, if it weren't by the princess. What a daring, poking your nose into other countries issues!
—Not when they're in the limits of the Mushroom Kingdom, which is under my jurisdiction! So, therefore, I order you to leave immediately and return my sons!
—Shut up!—exclaims the Magikoopa, impatient. He takes out his wand and casts an offensive spell on Peach, but she dodges. Kamek casts more, now aiming Ikki too, but the pair escapes the magic, while Bowser hides behind the throne. Ikki turns himself into a flame and flies toward Kamek, but he teleports, avoiding the attack.
The Mini Mushroom that Ikki ate loses effect and he returns to the normal size, intimidating the turtles. The bird turns into a flame again, glaring and threatening to burn everything around. The wizard teleports to behind the throne, next to the regent of the dark land.
—Do you want the kids back, Princess? I challenge you to go to our home rescue them! Of course, clumsy and inexperienced as you are, you'll end up dying before getting there! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
—What did you say?!—she inquires, offended. Peach runs to hit Kamek with her shoes, but he and Bowser teleport away, back home.
—I'll go there, Kamek! Just wait!
—Are you ready for this, Highness?
—I am, Ikki—states the regent, decided. —It's time to save my sons from their grasp. I won't stop until I achieve it!
—Then let's return to the mountain—suggests Ikki. —We'll give you the necessary items for your journey.