I rode the Shine back to the Lighthouse, then ran over to FLUDD (the scientists had managed to fix the shaft and replace the glass). He told me where to put it and how to install it (thankfully, I'm a plumber, so I could understand his directions; but it took so long to explain that I'm not going to bother writing it), and I did so. He whirred back to full health, and I stood him upright.

"Thank you, Mario!" he cheered, "I never doubted you!"

"You're we–" I began, but a booming bird call interrupted me. We all looked up and gasped.

There, soaring about 20 feet above us, was a fully-grown Sand Bird.

Before we could react (I never even got to put FLUDD on my back), it swooped down and picked up FLUDD and me in its gritty beak, and carried us off.

I struggled to breathe as I was sinking through the sand. This was it, I thought, This was how I died: Being suffocated inside a bird made out of sand. A pretty unique way to die, now that I think about it.

But unexpectedly, a large clump of sand congregated underneath me, pushing me up onto the bird's back. I coughed up some sand, looked up, and gasped.

The view was incredible from up here. I could see the entirety of Isle Delfino (it really was shaped like a dolphin!), and all the cities that we'd been to, plus some more we hadn't been to yet, and some we probably never would go to.

FLUDD turned to look at the Sand Bird's head and asked, "Why'd you abduct us like that?"

I looked at FLUDD quizzically, then remembered that it wouldn't be the strangest thing that had talked today.

She turned her head to look at us, and squawked.

Then she cleared her throat and said, "Sorry, got something stuck in my throat. I'm Eldoris, and I picked you up because I need someone to help me find my baby."

"Your baby?"

"Yes, my baby! I left his egg on that tower in Gelato Beach, then I went out to find some food, but when I came back, the egg had broken, and he was gone!"

I chuckled, "Yeah, sorry, I was fighting a criminal, and he sorta launched me into the egg, hatching your son, and he sorta flew away."

She seemed to become worried. "Oh no, this is bad! If he wanders into a bad neighborhood, or he starts sucking on something he's not supposed to, he could get hurt, or worse!"

I looked at FLUDD, who nodded, and I said, "We'll help you find your baby."

"Oh, thank you so much! Where did he seem to be headed off to?"

"It looked like he was headed west... Or was it east?" I didn't know, as I wasn't the best at navigating (that's probably why it usually takes me 8 worlds just to get to Bowser's Castle).

Suddenly, FLUDD swiveled his head towards the island and stated, "Scanning..." A 'ding' noise came out, and he said, "The baby sand bird is currently in Pinna Park."

"Yeah, that works, too," I chuckled.

Eldoris said, "Hold on tight!"

I asked, "To what?"

In response, she formed some of her sand into a seat. I gladly held on as she dove down, gaining incredible speed, and soared through the night sky towards Pinna Park.

Meanwhile, in Princess Peach's hotel room (she told me this later)…

Princess Peach was happily sleeping in her bed. The cops stationed outside were sleeping as well.

This was a bad thing, as they never noticed the blueish-black figure that had just snuck into the room.