breath20k

Actually, the battle against Macho Grubba was just as great as the Rawk Hawk battle.

LiamTheYoshi

Because the next mainstream Mario game wouldn't come out for another few years at this time period, I guess the Bros will start with funding for a couple of spinoff games like Mario Party, for example. And don't ever think about doing a boxing match with Mario. He'll knock you out within seconds in Round 1.

mariobroultimate

Looks like Rawk Hawk was more bark than bite after all. I haven't watched Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, but I kinda understand the voice comparison between King Dedede and Grubba.

Nataly Guardado

I'm sorry you got scared during the poisoned wine scene. But rest assured, I 100% approve of you going Super Saiyan if needed.

...

Chapter 28: Going Undercover

It's been three and a half hours since Mario and friends claimed the third Crystal Star. In Grodus's chamber, he was interrogating the Shadow Sirens regarding Mario and Luigi's whereabouts.

"Beldam... Tell me, what good are you?" Grodus asked. "You stillhaven't taken care of those Mario and Luigi characters?"

"Well, yes, sorry, but... Only because they were tougher than we thought at first..." Beldam admitted.

"You do understand that we X-Nauts must open the door first, do you not?"

"Mweeeheeheeheehee... Well, rest assured that I will definitely nail them next time," Beldam said. "We have prepared a weapon that will bring them to a quick and certain end."

"I trust your words...though I rapidly lose my patience," Grodus said.

"Just leave it to us, sire. Mweeeheeheeheehee..." Beldam turned to Marilyn and Vivian. Marilyn had been listening intently, but Vivian had her head down, still upset about Beldam potentially doing harm to her again.

"Let's away, my lovelies! Marilyn! Vivian!" Beldam sunk into the ground.

"Ugghh... Guh," Marilyn grunted before she followed suit.

Vivian stood still for a few seconds and peeked at Grodus for a brief second. I really want to tell him about my problem... But then again, he's just as evil as Beldam is... She reluctantly sank into the ground too.

...

Meanwhile, in Peach's holding room, she had been sitting on her bed thinking things over. "I'm still upset at TEC doing that dance simulation. But at the same time, I'm extremely bored. Like, those X-Nauts haven't been back to ask about the map..."

Peach looked at the door to her left. "I wonder... Is it safe to go out there?"

Suddenly, the door to Peach's right opened by itself.

"TEC's some mind reader, isn't he?"

Peach wasted no time and headed to TEC's room. Upon seeing her walk in, TEC's red eye stared at her.

"Hello, Princess Peach," TEC greeted Peach. "Before we go any further, I would like to apologize for dancing with you like that. It was very uncalled for."

"I'll try to forgive you, but you know I'm still a bit angry," Peach responded.

"I understand. Anyway, I would like you to go to where Sir Grodus is and ask him something."

"What? What do you mean, go ask?" Peach asked.

"I recently obtained specific information that brought an...issue to my attention," TEC replied.

"You are the main computer here, right? Why is there anything you don't know?"

"I am unable to know things that are not entered in my CPU or otherwise recorded. That is why I want to know what Sir Grodus is thinking about this issue," TEC explained.

Peach harked back to when she and Twink tried to escape from her bedroom to eavesdrop on Bowser's minions regarding the stolen Star Spirits. "No. If I go out there, they'll spot me immediately. Look at my dress. It's bright pink. People can see me even from the far end of Toad Town."

"That is true. But you will find a soldier's room one floor up," TEC said. "Take the elevator. Once there, please obtain a soldier's uniform and change into it, avoiding detection. You will go see Sir Grodus looking like a soldier."

"You know what? I actually like that idea," Peach beamed. "It's better than backing against the wall and being scared to walk further."

"I figured you would say yes."

"So, what do you want me to ask Grodus?" Peach asked.

"I will tell you," TEC replied. "But first, take this radio before you leave."

A small compartment below TEC's keyboard opened, revealing a walkie-talkie with a wired earpiece.

"Thank you."

Peach took the walkie-talkie and left TEC's office, expecting to go out of the holding room and find an elevator outside. But midway through the hallway connecting TEC's office and the holding room, a hidden elevator door opened to her left.

"Whoa!" Peach exclaimed out of startlement. "There was an elevator in this hall?" She entered the elevator, stowed the walkie-talkie in her dress pocket, and put on the earpiece.

"Can you hear me, Princess Peach?" TEC's voice asked.

"Yes."

The elevator's door closed before zooming up two levels.

After Peach exited the elevator, TEC said, "Now, Princess Peach. It is the room with the green lamp very near where you disembark the elevator."

Peach looked all around for the green lamp and found it on her left side. The door below it was unlocked to her relief. She entered a small locker room with two changing stalls and four lockers.

"Okay, TEC. Now what?" Peach asked.

"Please change here. Quickly. The soldier's uniform should be in a locker," TEC said.

Peach opened all four lockers to search for an X-Naut uniform. She eventually found one on the second from the right.

"There we go," Peach said, taking the outfit to one of the changing stalls. She found the outfit to be a bit tight for her size but didn't mind it at all. She took the walkie-talkie and earpiece out of her hung-up dress and stowed them within her disguise.

Now I gotta make up a voice so they won't recognize me, Peach said to herself. She cleared her throat and spoke in an elderly voice with a Boston accent, "I am ready to go, TEC."

"Hm. I am impressed by your voice," TEC said. "Sir Grodus will not know your real self."

Without hesitation, Peach left the locker room and spotted a door on her left. She went through it, entering Grodus's chamber. Grodus was standing at his console with his back turned.

"Excuse me... Sir Grodus?" Peach said in her Boston elder voice. Grodus turned to face her.

"Yes, what is it? Speak!"

"Er, well... It's about Princess Peach... What do you plan to do with her going forward?"

"About Princess Peach...?" Grodus stopped to think for a couple of seconds. "I have no interest in what that woman has to say. Just keep her locked in the room. You understand? Tell the others as well."

"Yes, sir. But why are we even keeping her here?" Peach asked.

"That's none of your business! Don't forget your place, you impudent worm! Concentrate on getting the legendary treasure! That is all I require of you. We X-Nauts need that treasure to conquer the world! Don't forget it!"

"Conquer...the world? Legendary...treasure?" Peach hesitated despite her not breaking character.

"What are you blathering about now?" Grodus paused, wondering if he was really talking to an X-Naut. "Hmm... Something's very odd about you."

"N-no! No, sir! Nothing odd! Uh... P-please excuse me."

Peach quickly left Grodus's chamber.

"I have a feeling she's somebody else," Grodus said. "I can't put my finger on it, though."

...

Peach ran into the locker room and slammed her back against the door, panting from the stress building up earlier. She turned off her walkie-talkie and unmasked herself, revealing her sweaty face.

Thank God! I almost fainted for a second! Peach thought. But all that stuff conquering the world... I wonder if that has anything to do with collecting those Crystal Stars.

Peach changed back into her normal dress and hurried to TEC's office. She had a disappointed look on her face.

"What is wrong, Princess Peach?" TEC asked with concern.

"Was this your goal? Conquering the world?" Peach questioned.

"Of course. After all, I was built for that purpose."

Peach started to feel angry again but kept her cool.

"Princess Peach, allow me to ask you something," TEC said. "Do you like the world you live in? There are many problems in the world, many sorrows. Do you like such a world?"

"I do. Nobody likes everything about the world, but I love the good parts," Peach answered. "There are many sorrows, sure. But there's also joy."

"Is that so?"

"I'm sorry if I sound angry, but will the Crystal Stars help you conquer the world?" Peach asked in an irritated tone. "And what's this treasure?"

"That, I cannot answer," TEC replied. "Answering those questions is prohibited by Sir Grodus."

Peach laid her head in her hands, trying to hold her anger back. "I need to text Mario and Luigi right now before I start screaming."

"Go ahead."

Peach placed the walkie-talkie and earpiece in the compartment below TEC's keyboard and typed a group text to the Mario Bros.

"The message has been sent," TEC stated. "Well then, Princess Peach. You have had a busy day. Go back to your room, please."

Peach didn't say anything and speed-walked out of TEC's office.

"Goodbye, Princess Peach."