As Peach and Toadsworth returned from their walk, they opened the door to find everyone going crazy.

"What in heaven's name is going on here?!" Toadsworth shouted.

"It's horrible, just horrible!" One of the toads cried.

"What happened?!" Peach asked Toad.

"Bowser came to the castle ten minutes ago with a weird scepter with powers to control people's emotions! He used that power to kidnap Mario and Luigi!"

"Bowser did WHAT?!" Peach shouted. Not only did Bowser ruin her birthday, but he also kidnapped her boyfriend and his brother, and she was not too happy about it.

"That's very dreadful! Because the Mario Bros have been kidnapped, we have no clue how to stop him." Toadsworth cried.

Peach, not able to hold back her anger any longer, stormed out of the castle to regain her composure.

"Princess wait!" Toadsworth shouted as he ran after the princess outside the castle to find Peach standing there, venting by breathing very fast and deep. Toadsworth knew he needed to assure the princess that everything is going to be OK.

"Princess, I'm sorry but there is nothing we can do about the situation."

"No, Toadsworth. There is something I can do."

Peach had made up her mind.

"I volunteer to stop Bowser myself!" Peach replied.

Toasdworth gasped in shock at Peach's words. Hold on. Maybe she was just venting, not really meaning what she said, but the determined look in Peach's eyes told him otherwise.

"You? Stop Bowser from possibly taking over the world with his new-found powers? Princess, that is unthinkable! You could get hurt!" Toadsworth yelled.

"If I can't stop Bowser, who can? I've been a damsel in distress for too long, Toadsworth! I am not a child! When I'm done with Bowser, he will be sorry he ever stepped within 10 feet of my castle!"

"It's true, princess. You are all grown up, 100 percent. But-"

"I know you are trying to protect me, and I appreciate that. But I am tired of being some weak damsel who keeps getting locked in a tower all day. I am going to prove to my people and myself that I am more than capable of running and protecting my kingdom! Do you understand me, Toadsworth?!"

Toadsworth sighed. She was right. She really needed a break from all that kidnapping nonsense, but an adventure that could potentially be at the cost her life wasn't what he had in mind for a break. But she was right. A true princess would do anything -even fight- for the safety of her loved ones and her kingdom, and he was proud of her for it. But he still wanted her safe and sound when she gets back.

"If you really want to, but before you go, I want you to have this."

Toadsworth gave Peach a pale yellow parasol with sky blue trimming.

"An umbrella? What's that for?"

"Oh ho ho! That is no ordinary umbrella! Try opening it."

Peach opened the parasol and sure enough, it started talking!

"Hiya! I'm Perry! If you need me, I'll help you in a pinch!"

"What in the world!?"

"I found him at the market place the other day and wanted to give him to you as a present. He has magical properties that I'm sure will help you in your quest."

Peach sighed in relief. She thought this strange talking parasol was some kind of monster, but it turned out that Perry was her friend there to help her.

"OK. I'm sorry I got scared like that, Perry. My name is Princess Peach, but you may call me Peach."

"OK, nice to meet you, Peach! I heard you going to save this Mario guy?"

"Yes, I am. Bowser, my nemesis, used some strange scepter that controls people's emotions to capture my friends. Do you happen to know anything about this strange power?"

"This 'strange scepter' you're referring to is a powerful artifact called the Vibe Scepter. It has the ability to control the emotions of any living thing. It is said to be located in Vibe Island."

"Great! Where is it exactly?"

"It's not too far away from the Mushroom Kingdom. Just north-east of here."

"That's pretty convenient. If that's where Mario has been taken, that's where we're going. Let's go!"