The next morning, Peach knocked on Mario's hotel room door. After a few minutes, Mario opened the door. "Oh, hello, Princess."
"Hi, Mario," Peach said. "How are you?"
"I'm sleepy. I hardly got any sleep overnight."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. There isn't too much time before your match. I think we should get some breakfast into you."
Mario then realized that he was very hungry. Over the last 24 hours, he had eaten nothing but a hot dog. "I'm a-starving!"
"Okay, good," Peach said, "Luigi's already heading down to the restaurant next door. Get your clothes on and meet us down there."
"Um, Princess," Mario stopped her from turning around, "I changed my mind. I had a nightmare."
"Oh?" Peach said. "What was the nightmare about?"
Mario looked down at his feet. "I dreamt that Rawk Hawk killed me and then he got crazy and kicked you and used Luigi as a toothpick and went and swung Yoshi around by his tongue and used him to knock down your castle and all of the other buildings in the Mushroom Kingdom."
"Oh, Mario, that's awful. I don't blame you for not wanting to fight Rawk Hawk. But come on. It's time for breakfast, then we're going to your big match." Peach kissed Mario right on the forehead, then walked down the hallway out of Mario's sight.
Mario sighed. He walked over to his suitcase, and put on his gloves, shirt, overalls, hat, and boots. Then he went into the room's bathroom, fixed up his 'stache, walked down the hallway, then down the stairs, and exited the hotel room. He walked right to the restaurant, and saw Peach and Luigi sitting together at a small table. Luigi waved him over, and Peach smiled.
Mario pulled out the chair and sat down.
"We've been waiting for you," Luigi said, "It's a buffet, Mario. Let's go over and get some breakfast."
The three of them got up, and walked over to the table. While Peach and Luigi looked happy, Mario sulked to the table. Mario thought the bacon smelled really good, so he filled his plate with bacon, and topped them with some mushroom purée. After they all got their food, they returned to the table.
"So," Luigi said to Mario, "are you looking forward to the battle?"
"Um..." Mario said, at a loss of words.
"Peach told me last night you were going to fight. So, how about it? Are you going to try to not lose?"
"Mmmm..." Peach said, licking her fingers. "These cinnamon rolls are to die for!"
Mario whimpered.
"Hmmm?" Peach said. "Oh... right." She had accidentally said "die" and Mario was whimpering with his head in his hands.
"Hmmm..." Luigi said, "These eggs are really really yellow." He poked at the egg with his fork. "I wonder if there is dye in them."
Mario cried out and covered his face with his cap.
"Luigi!" Peach shouted. "That was mean!" She slapped Luigi elegantly.
"I'M GONNA DIE!" Mario shouted through his cap, his head still down on the table. The other restaurant-goers glanced over at Mario.
"Sir," the restaurant's greeter said to Mario, waiting for him to lift his head up to look at her. He didn't, so she continued. "This note came for you." She set the letter on the table.
Mario looked up and read the letter.
MaRiO
If YoUr GoNnA fIgHt, HeReS sOmE aDvIcE:
tUg RaWk HaWkS tAiL fEaThErS
From X
Peach looked puzzled. "That's some pretty weird advice. Who's X?"
Luigi read the letter. "Hmmm... I know it's not me."
Mario anxiously looked at his watch. He groaned loudly.
"What time is it?" Peach asked. She looked across at Mario's watch. "Oh my! Mario! It's almost nine! You're going to miss your match!"
Mario smiled.
"Come on, Mario!" Luigi said. "It's time to fight!"
Mario dragged his feet behind Peach and Luigi to the Glitz Pit.
