We left our characters on their way to Peach's Castle. Can Peach shed any more light on the strange castle upon Mushroom Mountain?

Chapter 2: They all fall down.

The group consisting of Toadsworth, Princess Daisy, Luigi, Toad, Toadette, Katya and Waluigi had almost reached Peach's castle. Daisy and Luigi who often visited Peach and Mario noticed subtle differences about its appearance. There was slightly more security around the place. It made Daisy feel slightly uneasy about the situation.

It took some time gaining entrance to the castle, when normally they would all just have walked in. Toadsworth had to argue with the first guard about who he was. Eventually Peach had come down to see what the commotion was and straightened it out.

"I'm sorry about that," Peach said as she hugged each on of them in turn.

"Tighter security I'm afraid, at least until we know what we are dealing with," Everyone nodded in understanding.

"Do you actually 'know' anything?" Waluigi asked rudely.

"No, not at this point," Peach said ignoring his obvious rudeness.

Katya and Toadette walked over to the window. The new castle seemed to have an eerie look about it; it caused Toadette to have the shivers. Before Katya could say anything Toadette shrieked. Everyone looked at her in surprise, realising something was wrong they rushed to the window.

With half of the Mushroom Kingdom and Mushroom Mountain lay out before them they had a good view of what was going on. The side to the castle opened and out emerged three fighter planes.

The group stood still and watched in horror as the three fighter planes swooped and took fire at the unsuspecting citizens below. Peach had tears in her eyes as her Kingdom was destroyed bit by bit.

"I've got to go and..." She cried.

"There's nothing you can do Princess," Toadsworth said. Peach's face went red with anger.

"Nothing I can do? Nothing! There has to be something! I'm going.."

"To get blown up if you go out there," Waluigi said flatly. The others agreed. Toadsworth walked over to the throne and pressed a small blue button. Peach glared at him and went started to stomp off.

"If none of you will help!" She shouted. Luigi nodded at Waluigi who took half the strides Peach did and picked her up, flinging her over his shoulder.

"Let me go you over grown drainpipe," She shrieked.

"No can do. Oi! Old Toad, you best have a plan. I don't think them planes are going to leave the castle alone," Waluigi asked Toadsworth. Toadsworth nodded glumly and pointed to the door in which they had not so long ago walked through. A small man with glasses and grey hair stood in the doorway looking most flustered.

"Luigi, I believe this is an old friend of yours?" Luigi turned round and immediately recognised the man.

"Professor E, Gadd!"

"Great, Dads Army's arrived," Waluigi muttered. Peach was still struggling in his grip.

"No time for introductions, we must get moving. The plans are headed in this direction. Follow me," Professor Gadd said.

With hardly any more words said the terrified group and an irate Princess followed the professor right down to the dungeons. Toadette started to panic when Waluigi cruelly suggested that if the castle were to get hit they would all be squashed. Professor Gadd calmed her down when he said it was unlikely because there was secret panelling under the castle that lead to a small pathway.

The pathway was small and dingy; Katya and Daisy gasped and shuddered as they came across many creepy crawly kinds of things. Eventually they came to a door, to the girl's relief. E. Gadd opened the door and allowed them all in.

"Here we are," he said absentmindedly. Waluigi rolled his eyes.

"And where, pray tell is here?"

"My secret laboratory and bunker of course!" E. Gadd answered.

When they got inside Waluigi dumped Peach on the floor and walked off to find a seat.

"There we are your highness,"

Peach sat in the corner refusing to speak to anyone and kept giving Waluigi the odd glare every so often. Daisy sat next to Luigi near by and was holding each other. Toadette and Toad were talking to Katya about what each of them saw when they watched the horrific events from the window. Toadsworth and Professor Gadd were deep in conversation about the next step. Waluigi was by himself sitting at a small table.

"I wonder if anyone survived," Peach said for the first time since reaching the lab. Everyone looked at her, it now hit home. There may not be any survivors.

"Shhh!" Toadette suddenly said as once again she started to panic. Everyone hushed down and listened out for something. As everyone listened they could hear the faint banging from the world above.

A soldier walked into the room breaking the morbid silence. He whispered something to Toadsworth and E. Gadd. Toadsworth shook his head. The soldier went away. The group looked at Toadsworth and the Professor expectantly.

"What did he want?" Daisy asked.

"You two wont like this one bit," Toadsworth said sadly pointing at Daisy and then at Waluigi. Both of them looked at him not understanding what he was on about.

"Well you see the Mushroom Kingdom wasn't the only place to have been struck, as it would seem...," Toadsworth started. Daisy understood right away and began to cry.

"It's my fault," She sobbed, as Luigi went to comfort her. Waluigi was still trying to grasp Toadsworth point.

"And why would I be sad if her Kingdoms been blown to smithereens?" He asked.

"My poor blinded child. The Diamond City was blown up prior to the Mushroom Kingdom and after the Diamond City, Sarasaland and the Congo Jungle joined them," Toadsworth said. Now it dawned on Waluigi that Wario was in the Diamond City. His reaction was quieter then Daisy's. He walked back to his seat and sat with his head in his hands.

Katya sighed and walked over to where Waluigi was seated. She sat on the table near his head and put her hand on his shoulder. Peach watched everyone with interest and then she thought of something that made her go cold inside.

"Oh no...," She whispered. Those not comforting someone or being comforted looked at her.

"What if I sent Mario to his death?" She said. No one answered her; no one had an idea as to what she was talking about.

"Where is he?" Asked Luigi who was now very interested.

"I...I sent..h..Him to find Wario," She said through tears.

"So are we all that's left?" Daisy asked.

"There's the Darklands, so I suppose Bowser's fine. Yoshi's Island and Isle Delfino are still all intact," E. Gadd replied.

"We need to send a message to Yoshi! I hope him and Birdo are okay," Toadette said fretfully.

"Done and done, young'un!" Toadsworth said positively.

"What will we do now?" Toad who had been quiet until now asked. No one had the answer.

Next time on A Million Miles Away: The odd few survivors from Diamond City and the Congo Jungle make an appearance. The group split up to find other survivors.