When Mario awoke, the sun was high in the sky. There was drool under his mouth on the table. The first thing he noticed was that the engineer was in the room now.
Pennington was speaking to the engineer, who seemed to be in good condition. The engineer was sitting in a chair. "So, you don't recognize anybody in this car as the person who shot you?" Pennington asked.
"No," the engineer said. "I don't."
"Well, everybody aboard the train is in this room right now. And you say that none of these people shot you?"
"No, I don't remember seeing any of these people when I was shot."
Mario was getting hungry. Chef Shimi hadn't made any food at all today. Mario glanced up at the clock above the door. It was already noon! He could tell Peach was starving--she was chewing on her gorgeous hair. Mario realized just how hungry he was when he noticed that he was licking crumbs out of his mustache.
"I move that we recess for lunch," Mario said. Immediately, everyone realized how hungry he or she was.
"Well, then, I'll cook mushroom pudding. It'll be quick and easy to make," said Chef Shimi.
"Okay," the conductor said. "But hurry. If we don't solve this mystery by the time we arrive in Poshley Heights tomorrow, we won't be allowing anybody off the train."
Chef Shimi went to the kitchen, and everyone else continued sitting in the dining car. Nobody knew what to say. Mario didn't want to be stuck on this train with these maniacs any longer than he had to. The entire morning had been filled with annoying and boring events. It wasn't very long at all until Chef Shimi returned from the kitchen with his big pot. Inside was brownish clear stuff. "Sorry, everyone. I messed up a little bit on this project." He took his ladle, scooped some up, and dalloped some into the conductor's bowl. It jiggled a little too much like gelatin. It was a little unsettling to look at.
The conductor and engineer were sitting together at a table right next to Mario and Peach's table. Mario overheard them talking.
"So, who do you think 'dunnit'?" asked the conductor.
"I don't know!" said the engineer. "I didn't notice!"
"We can't pick up the passengers waiting for us to pick them up at Riverside Station later today. We mustn't stop. We have to keep moving at full steam. Otherwise, the 'attempted-murderer' might try to get off the train and flee!"
"Agreed," said the engineer. "We won't stop. I also think we should check the passengers for guns. You know...find out who shot me."
"Good idea."
That night, under the twinkling stars, the Excess Express didn't slow down for the passengers eagerly waiting to board the train at Riverside Station. Five people stood outside, surprised that the train completely passed them. The rich Toad with the monocle gasped, and the one with the elegant dress cupped her hands over her mouth, and said, "Well, I never!"
Meanwhile, the conductor ordered everyone to return to his or her room. He searched everywhere for guns. The results of this search were startling, and he announced them as he ran into the dining car during dinner.
"EVERYONE HAS GUNS! Everyone except for the princess! Even the engineer has one! Even Shimi! Even the purple-haired waitress! EVERYONE! Even me!"
"Well, this doesn't help narrow the search down," said the purple-haired waitress, disappointedly.
"I bet he did it!" the fat Toad grinned, food dribbling out of his mouth, pointing at the Koopa Troopa.
"What?" The Koopa scowled angrily and said, "No, I didn't!" He then hurled a handful of mushroom lasagna at the fat Toad. "Eat this, too!"
The fat Toad, completely taken aback, picked up his mushroom breadstick, and threw it back at the Koopa Troopa. The Koopa ducked his head into his shell, and the breadstick, missing its target, struck the face of the purple-haired waitress innocently standing right behind.
"Food fight!"
Everyone began throwing food. Everyone, that is, except for Princess Peach. She cowered in the corner. Her dress was new. She didn't want it ruined. Mario saw how afraid she was. "I'll defend you, Peach!"
He grabbed some of his mushroom salad and threw it at the purple-haired waitress, and splashed his fresh-squeezed mushroom juice into the conductor's face. The Koopa Troopa ran up, and smooshed a handful of mushroom cake into Mario's face.
However, Mario had no time to wipe it off his face because saw a glob of mushroom lasagna flying through the air, right at the princess! The lasagna would hit Peach's dress! Mario had no time to spare. He dove through the air, and intercepted the glob. His favorite overalls were ruined--he would never get the stain out. Peach then realized how selfless Mario was, and kissed him. "Thank you, Mario," Peach said.
"Oh, you're welcome." Mario swiftly picked her up, and carried her out of the dining car, out of the way of dangerous flying food, to Room 5 for the night.