Authors' Notes: Welcome to chapter 2! I just wanted to say that if you have any preferences for the story--that is, someone you'd like to see make an appearance, or something--feel free to say so in your review. We're always open to suggestions, and we want to please our audience; just keep in mind that every suggestion won't be taken into action. Well, enjoy this now-revised chapter!

Disclaimer: Once again, all characters, except Exxohman, belong to Nintendo and so does the Paper Mario franchise and some concepts related to Paper Mario (such as the X-Nauts, etc.). The plot of this fanfic, however, was thought up by Sonic 2, and we will both be highly offended if you copy off of this fanfic or use any of Sonic 2's characters without permission.

Chapter 2: Questions... But no Answers

(30 days before earth is destroyed...)

When Peach recovered from the effects of the sleeping gas--the second time that day she had been knocked unconscious--she was in a different room in the X-Naut's base... The same room Grodus imprisoned me in, she reflected. She got up from where she was on the floor.

She heard footsteps from the other side of the doors of her room. They slid open to reveal Bowser. Noticing that Peach was now awake, he stepped in, accompanied by Kammy Koopa. As the doors slid shut behind the evil pair, Peach shot them an angry glance.

"Princess, you better get used to this room because you'll be spending a lot of time in it from here on out," sneered the female Magikoopa. "That annoying computer, TEC, isn't going to help you this time... And don't look so surprised--we heard how Grodus's defeat was partly caused by that Artificial Intelligence, and we aren't going to let it happen again! Its controls that open doors has been destroyed, and it was entirely re-programmed by His Nastiness."

Bowser seemed to be in a less-grouchy mood now that he was in the presence of Peach. "I know what you're thinking, Princess.'Mario is going to come and save me, like he always does!' Well, y'might as well shove all ideas of that stupid excuse for a plumber out of your head, because this time he won't be--I myself have seen to that!"

"His Awfulness is correct, Princess!" Kammy Koopa piped up again. "The teleportation thing that he can use to get here was also re-programmed by His Grouchiness so that it can only be activated and used from here--meaning, we can use it, but Mario can't. As for that trashy cannon the oversized idiot used last time, well, it was destroyed! So Mario has no way of reaching you!"

Peach felt her spirits sink, but she kept a cold, resolute face. "No matter what you do, Mario always finds a way, and it won't be any different this time! Even when you became invincible with the Star Rod, Mario was still able to defeat you. Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

"C'mon, Princess, you know he won't be able to do it," replied Bowser. "This time, I've thought of every possible thing Mario can do, and have done everything to stop him. There's just no way, so you shouldn't waste your time thinking he'll come, because he won't! And, besides, being here with me isn't as bad as you seem to think. You won't be spending all the time here in your room, y'know--you might have some allowances."

"If you behave!" Kammy Koopa quickly added. "And don't think you'll be able to escape. Just stay here like a good Princess, and don't go poking around things that don't concern you!"

Peach crossed her arms. "I still believe Mario will come... He'll find a way to get here, and take me away from this awful place. He always has, and he always will."

"It's not like he'll think to come here in the first place," Bowser reasoned. "He thinks this place is destroyed and deserted, and he doesn't have any reason to think otherwise. You better just get used to me, Princess, and stop wasting your energy on that no-good Mario!" He walked to the door, with Kammy following him. "Now if you'll excuse me... I have some things to be doing."

They both exited the room, leaving Peach alone.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Not long after, Exxohman was walking down the hall to the room the meeting had been held in before. How come there have to be so many elevators in this place? he thought, annoyed, as he stepped off the elevator... the third one he had had to take to get to the proper level. He entered the aforementioned room.

Bowser was standing by the control panel, which was still there from when the X-Nauts had owned the base. Kammy Koopa was off doing something with the henchmen.

At the sound of the doors sliding opening and closing again as Exxohman walked in, Bowser turned around. "What is it, Exxohman? I'd prefer not to be bothered right now; I have some things to do."

"I have a few questions, Sir Bowser," replied Exxohman, doing his best to keep his voice low and respectful. If Bowser was as grouchy as he had been earlier, there was no telling what he might do if he got angry... and you had to be especially careful what you said when asking questions. "Why, exactly, do we want to blow up earth? What's the point, Sir? I don't understand how it will help us do anything..."

"That is none of your business!" Bowser snapped. Then he seemed to reconsider something, and calmed down. "I'll tell you when the time comes... now's not that time."

"But, Sir-"

"No but's!"

"Yes, Sir."

Without another word, Exxohman turned and left.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Back at Princess Peach's Castle, the toads were frantic. They were all gathered in the first floor of the castle, their duties temporarily forgotten. The Princess was missing!

"What are we going to do?" cried a female servant.

"I haven't seen her since this morning!" said another.

"Didn't she say something about a walk?" asked a different one.

"Please! We musn't lose our heads," said the minister, speaking loudly above all the hubbub to get their attention. They all quieted down. "Tahrr T., you were on guard duty earlier today, I believe?"

Tahrr T., a toad with blue spots on his head stepped forward, holding his spear as usual. He was able to maintain a calm tone for the sake of the other worried toads around him. "Yes, I was guarding her room. She told me that she was going to take a walk and that she'd be back soon. I acknowledged it."

"But that must've been hours ago!" said another distressed servant.

The minister knew the situation was serious, but he too remained calm so as not to worry the others. He turned to a sprightly-looking young toad standing next to him. "Sprin T., hurry to the Mario Bros. House and tell them that they're needed right away!"

Sprin T., who was the fastest toad in the castle, gave a smart salute, perking up at a chance to use his running ability. "You got it! I'll have them here in a jiffy!"

With that, he sped to the door. The last thing he heard before he disappeared outside was Toad T., Princess Peach's personal servant, saying encouragingly, "If anyone would be able to do something, it'd be the Mario Bros.!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mario sat at the table, waiting for Luigi to finish up dinner. He was surprised when he heard a sharp knock at the door.

"I'll get it!" he said, getting up from the table. He walked over to the door and opened it to see a very exhausted Sprin T. standing there.

"Toad T.?" said Mario.

"Sprin T.," corrected the little toad between gasps. "I'm here... because of an... urgent situation."

Luigi's voice came from the kitchen. "A toad? Let me guess--Princess Peach has been kidnapped by Bowser, and you need Mario to save her. Right?"

"Not... exactly," said Sprin T., still trying to catch his breath. "She's missing! No one in the castle... has seen her... since this morning. We don't know... where she is. Bowser is the primary suspect, but we're not... sure if he's behind this... or not. You're needed down at the castle right away!"

"I thought something was gonna happen soon. I mean, it's not often that you get a full two months of relaxation without a villain trying to go and kidnap her again," murmured Luigi.

"I'll be there right away," Mario told Sprin T. A determined look crossed his face.

Sprin T. nodded. "I'll go back and tell the rest of the toads you're on your way!" The little toad took off again.

Mario turned to Luigi, about to say something, but Luigi beat him to it. "I know, I know--you don't want me to come because someone needs to stay here and watch the house while you go and heroically save the Princess."

"Exactly. Plus, what if something happens to the toads while I'm gone?" Mario added.

Luigi smiled. "Good luck, Bro. I know you can do it!"

To be continued...