Peach, Daisy, and Toad returned to the hospital at seven in the morning. They found Luigi in somewhat of a state of distress, moaning and thrashing about. Mario was trying to calm him down.

"Mario, what's going on?" Peach asked. "Where's Toadette?"

"She got a message from Captain Toad around midnight," Mario explained. "She didn't come back, so she probably went with the Toad Brigade on their latest treasure hunt. Unfortunately, Luigi practically had a conniption when she left, and he hasn't snapped out of it yet."

"Captain Toad sending messages at midnight?" Toad asked. "That's not like him. He never stays up that late! Where did he say they were going?"

"Piranha Creeper Cove," Mario said.

"That's weird," Daisy said. "I heard the Toad Brigade cleared that area out a couple of weeks ago."

"Maybe something else was discovered," Mario said, shrugging.

"I'm getting a bad feeling about this," Toad said. "I'm gonna go over to Captain Toad's house and see if he's there. Something funny's going on, and I don't mean funny ha ha!"

Luigi began moaning and thrashing again. Immediately, Mario grabbed his brother's hand, and squeezed it, reassuringly.

"It's all right, bro," he said. "Everything's fine."

"Noooo . . . ." Luigi moaned. "It . . . . it can't be! The . . . . the Goomba . . . ."

"The Goomba?" Daisy asked. "What about the Goomba?"

"Won't . . . . give up," Luigi moaned. "He . . . . he won't . . . . give up . . . . Toadette . . . ."

"Luigi, calm down," Peach said, taking a cold cloth and pressing it against Luigi's forehead. "That Goomba is gone. Mario chased him away. He's not coming back."

"Nothing . . . ." Luigi moaned again. "Nothing . . . . will stop him . . . . he . . . . he said . . . . Toadette will be his . . . . even if he . . . . if . . . . he . . . ."

"Mario, I think he's trying to tell us something really important here," Daisy said.

"I think you're right," Mario said. "We have to try to keep him awake so he can tell us. Luigi, what is the Goomba going to do? I know he said Toadette will be his, even if he has to do something. What is it he's going to do?"

"Toadette . . . . will be his . . . ." Luigi repeated. "Even if . . . . he . . . . if he . . . ."

"Go on, bro," Mario said. "If he what?"

"If . . . . he . . . ." Luigi said, drowsily. "If . . . . he . . . ."

"If he what?" Daisy asked, starting to get impatient.

"Come on, bro, don't pass out on us now!" Mario shouted. "What did the Goomba say to you before he gave you those Black Widow mushrooms?"

"He . . . . he said . . . ." Luigi said, struggling to remain conscious. "Toadette . . . . will be his . . . . even if . . . . if he had to . . . . k-kidnap her . . . ."

"What?!" Peach shouted.

"Oh, mama mia!" Mario shouted.

"But Mario chased him off," Daisy said. "Didn't you, Mario?"

"Of course I did," Mario said. "He ran so fast, it looked like he was never gonna come back!"

"Hey, you guys!" Toad shouted, running into the room, carrying a can of some kind. "You're never gonna believe what I found outside!"

"What, Toad?" Peach asked.

"Goomba tracks!" Toad shouted. "And I found this gas canister out there, too!"

"Let me see that," Mario said, taking the canister. He inspected it throughly, and then sniffed it. He flinched, and immediately threw the can across the room.

"What's the matter, Mario?" Daisy asked.

"Goomba Gas!" Mario shouted. "I'd bet my mustache on it!"

"Oh my!" Peach gasped. "Goomba Gas is one of the most powerful knockout gasses in the kingdom!"

"Luigi, think!" Mario shouted, turning to his semi-conscious brother. "Did that Goomba say where he was going to take Toadette?"

"I . . . . I don't know," Luigi said. "Just far . . . . far away . . . . where . . . . nobody will . . . . find them . . . ."

"That could be anywhere," Daisy said. "Luigi, do you have any idea where they could be? Did the Goomba give you any clues?"

"Eeennnngghhh . . . ." Luigi groaned, struggling to stay awake. He felt like he was going pass out any second.

"Come on, bro, this is important!" Mario shouted.

"You just can't faint! Not now!" Daisy shouted.

"Oh, come on, you two!" Peach scolded. "Poor Luigi's been through enough already! He needs to rest!"

"I know, Peach, but who knows what that Goomba has in mind for Toadette!" Mario shouted. "We can't waste time scouring the entire Mushroom Kingdom and the surrounding areas looking for her! It would take too long!"

"Yeah, she could be in serious trouble!" Toad shouted. "This Goomba sounds like he's a couple of hundred bricks shy of a full load!"

"Come, on, Luigi," Daisy said. "Do you remember anything else while you were this crazy Goomba's captive?"

"Come on, bro, you can do it," Mario encouraged.

"Someone . . . . else . . . . was there . . . ." Luigi said. "The . . . . G-goomba had . . . . h-help . . . ."

"Who, Luigi?" Mario asked. "Who was it?"

"Kaaaa . . . ." Luigi said, fighting with all his might to stay awake. "K-kaaa . . . . meehhh . . . . meeeeekkkkk . . . ."

That was it. Luigi couldn't fight it any longer. He moaned, and passed out completely. It was going to be quite some time before he regained consciousness again.

"What did he say?" Toad asked.

"Sounded like he said Kamek," Mario said. "At least that gives us a clue."

"Yeah," Toad said. "Boy, wait'll I get my hands on that Goomba! I'll make mushroom stew outta him!"

"I'm going, too," Peach said.

"I don't think that's such a good . . . ." Mario started to say.

"Believe me, Mario," Peach interrupted, "in the mood I'm in right now, that Goomba won't dare mess with me!"

"All right," Mario said. He was about to leave the hospital room, but stopped short. "Oh, wait a minute! I can't go! I don't want to leave Luigi alone like this!"

"Don't worry about that, Mario," Daisy said. "I'll take care of Luigi. You guys just go and take care of that Goomba!"

"Thanks, Daisy," Mario said, gratefully. "I really appreciate it."

"You're welcome," Daisy said. "Now go, get out of here, already!"

Mario, Peach, and Toad then raced out of the hospital as fast as they could. At this point, every second mattered in finding Toadette. They didn't want to think about what that crazy Goomba was going to do to her.

Meanwhile, Toadette was beginning to wake up from her vapor-induced sleep. Her head hurt, and she felt a little queasy.

"Ooohhh . . . ." she moaned. "Where am I?"

"In paradise, my little kissable kumquat!" a familiar voice shouted

"What?!" Toadette yelled.

That was enough to snap her out of the haze she was in. She got a good look at her surroundings. She found herself in a dark, dank, and dreary cave. The only source of light were some candles. Even with the dim light, she could see quite a bit. She was laying on a bunch of satin pillows, and found herself wearing a poofy wedding gown and veil. Standing in front of her was Gruber, wearing a top hat and tails.

"Good morning, my luscious little lollipop!" he shouted. "Daddy's home!"

"Oooohhhhh noooooo!" Toadette moaned. "No, no, no, no!"

"Oh yes, yes, yes, yes! I won't allow anyone to take you away from me ever again, my love! You and I will be living here in our little love nest, forever. No one will ever come between us again. Now, how's about giving your little Goomby-Woomby a great big kissy-wissy?"

Toadette moaned, and tried to back away from the Goomba, but found herself cornered when she backed into the wall. However, she did manage to give Gruber a kick in the face before he could get his lips on her.

"You're not my little Goomby-Woomby!" she shouted. "You're not my little anything! And I am not your luscious little lollipop! I will never be yours, don't you understand that?! Never, never, never!"

"Oh, my poor little pink popover," Gruber sighed. "That stupid plumber and his friends must have brainwashed you into thinking you don't love me. But I know you do, my sweet snowdrop. You'll learn."

"Never!"

Gruber sighed. He figured Toadette was just being stubborn, but he just knew if she spent enough time alone with him, and got to know him, she would grow to love him just as much as he loved her.

"Can I ask you something?" Toadette asked.

"Anything, my little pigtailed petunia!" Gruber shouted.

"What am I doing in this dress?"

"Oh, that. Well, while you were asleep, I took the liberty of changing your clothes for you. It wasn't easy, considering I don't have any hands, but I managed to do it."

"You . . . . you changed my clothes for me . . . . while I was . . . ."

Toadette tensed up at that thought. She had been creeped out by Gruber's actions before, but now she was really creeped out. The thought of the Goomba undressing her, without her consent yet, just made her skin crawl.

"Anyway, my little cuddle bunny," Gruber went on, "I had to make sure you were properly attired. What's a wedding if the beautiful bride-to-be isn't wearing a beautiful white wedding gown?"

"Wedding?" Toadette asked.

"I have the license all ready. All you have to do is sign it, and once I get a preacher down here to make it official, we'll be Goomba and wife! Once we're married, we'll live happily ever after, forever and ever!"

"Forever and ever?"

"That's right, my tantalizing little tulip!"

Gruber smiled, and leaned in toward Toadette to kiss her, but she smacked him in the face as hard as she could.

"Stay away from me, you . . . . you Goomba!" she yelled. "I don't want to marry you!"

"Hmm, maybe you're right," Gruber said. "Maybe we are taking things a little too fast. There really should be time for a courtship. Very well. If it's a courtship my little persimmon wants, a courtship my little persimmon will get!"

"I don't want anything to do with you!" Toadette shouted. "I'm leaving right now!"

And with that, Toadette stood up, and headed for the entrance of the cave. Gruber just stood there, with a sly smirk on his face.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, honey," he said. "I forgot to mention, we're in Greenwood Forest. No one's been here for years, and it's very easy to get lost in the woods around here, if you don't know where you're going. Do you know where your going?"

Toadette heaved a sigh that could have been heard all the way to the other side of the earth. Gruber did have a point. Toadette didn't know Greenwood Forest at all, and she also knew she could easily get lost and never be heard from again if she tried to venture out there.

"No," she sighed in defeat.

"I thought so," Gruber said. "Now, you wait right here, my precious pearl. Daddums is going out, and when he comes back, he'll have some nice presents for his gorgeous little gumdrop! La, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaaahhhh!"

And with that, Gruber skipped out of the cave like a loon. Toadette sat down among the satin pillows, and stared up at the ceiling.

"Oooohhhh . . . ." she moaned. "Now what am I gonna do? If I don't find a way out of here, I'm gonna be the Bride of Goomba-stein!"

The mere thought of being Gruber's bride was enough to cause Toadette to burst into tears. She didn't know what else she could do.

Elsewhere, Mario, Peach, and Toad had arrived to Kamek's tower. Not one to waste any time, Mario kicked down the door, and stormed in, with Peach and Toad right behind him. Kamek heard them, and came flying down on his broom.

"You could've just knocked!" he shouted. "I may be old, but I'm not deaf!"

"You're gonna be dead in a minute, bucko!" Mario shouted.

"My, aren't we testy today," Kamek said, sarcastically. "What do you want, anyway, plumber?"

"We know you force fed my brother Black Widow mushrooms! I want information!"

"Oh that. Well, I knew you'd find out about that sooner or later. What's it gonna take to get you to let me off easy?"

"Let you off easy?! Are you kidding me?!"

Kamek landed his broom, and dismounted. He flinched a bit at the death glare Mario was giving him.

"Yeah, I kinda had a feeling you'd say that," he said. "Listen, Mario. It was Gruber's idea! He made me do it!"

"Oh yeah, like we've never heard that one before!" Toad shouted, sarcastically.

"Look, it wasn't my idea!" Kamek continued. "I swear! I was under the assumption that we were just gonna take your brother and hide him in that darn watermelon until you were done with that game you were playing, and then we'd let him go! If I had my way, I'd just hit him over the head with my wand to knock him out, but that stupid Goomba was dead set on killing him!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know that part already," Mario said. "That stupid Goomba confessed after we found Luigi. You're just lucky he's still alive, Kamek, or else I'd . . . ."

"Mario, please, calm down," Peach said. "I know you're upset about what happened to Luigi, but now is not the time for this!"

"You're right, Peach," Mario said, heaving a sigh, and trying to calm down.

"So did Gruber throw me under the bus when he confessed?" Kamek asked. "Or did Green Stache turn stool pigeon?"

"Watch it, Kamek," Mario warned. "You're in enough hot water as it is."

"Luigi managed to tell us that this Goomba was going to stop at nothing until he had Toadette," Peach explained. "Even if he had to kidnap her, which we think he did. Do you know where they are?"

"Well . . . ." Kamek said, thinking. "I may know something about it . . . . but why should I help you?"

"I don't believe this!" Toad shouted, smacking his hand against his head.

"Because that Goomba is extremely dangerous in the state of mind he's in," Peach said. "Toadette could be in serious danger if we don't find them! You saw what he did to Luigi, just because he thought he was coming between him and Toadette! Who knows what he'll do if Toadette rejects him one too many times!"

"Hmmm . . . ." Kamek said, thinking it over. "I don't know . . . . ."

"You'd better tell us, Kamek!" Mario shouted, grabbing the Magikoopa by the collar. "Or else we'll tell Bowser that you were the one who poisoned Luigi with Black Widow mushrooms, which everyone knows very well are banned in both the Mushroom Kingdom, and Bowser's kingdom as well!"

"Okay, okay, okay!" Kamek shouted. "I'll talk! Gruber said he was gonna take her to Greenwood Forest once that stupid party of yours was over! Whether or not he actually did, I don't know. I took off after I gave Green Stache the second mushroom."

"Greenwood Forest?" Toad repeated. "But that's not all that far from here."

"No, but it is difficult to navigate through there," Mario said. "Not unless there's a warp pipe that leads there."

"I don't think there is," Peach said. "As far as I know, nobody's been in Greenwood Forest for years!"

"We'd better get started," Mario said. "If we get lucky, we'll be able to catch up with the Goomba, or find a warp pipe that leads there. Let's go!"

Immediately, Mario, Peach, and Toad ran out of Kamek's tower. Kamek heaved a sigh of relief.

"I thought that was going to be a lot worse," he said. Unfortunately, he spoke too soon. Mario suddenly turned around, and ran back to the tower.

"Oh, yeah, Kamek, I almost forgot," he said. Without another word, Mario punched Kamek in the face as hard as he could, which not only left the Magikoopa seeing stars, but it also broke his glasses.

"That was for Luigi!" Mario shouted, and he ran off to catch up with Peach and Toad.

"I should've seen that one coming," Kamek said, dazedly, and he fell over backwards onto the floor.