Meanwhile, as everyone was celebrating the defeat of Hooktail, there was a huge question on the back of their minds.
Where in the world was Princess Peach?
Somewhere out there, there was a very peculiar-looking base, the location is unknown, two soliders escorted Peach into a very large room.
"O great, Exalted Grodus! We have the prisoner just like you command." One of them said as they walked further into the room, where they saw a cyborg-like man-thing standing in front of them.
(Trails of Cold Steel IV ost - In the Ignorance of Darkness)
"Good." The man, Grodus, spoke as he turned around. "Now, Princess Peach… I believe it's time you start talking. Where is the map?"
"I'm telling you, I don't have it!" Peach argued.
"Do you think of me for a fool princess? My X-Nauts saw you holding that map, so therefore you have some knowledge of the Crystal Stars! So tell me… where is that map?"
"I'm not telling you." Peach folded her arms. "I never even touched this map that you speak of!"
"DON'T LIE TO ME!" Grodus roared, as it was enough to not only make Peach flinch, but Lord Crump as well. "I, Grodus, leader of the X-Nauts always get what I want! Now, you WILL tell me where the map and the Crystal Stars are at. I will not ask again."
"Make me." Peach said defiantly.
"Meep…" One of the X-Nauts whispered.
"Well, it was nice knowing her." The other quietly said.
"Grrr… of all the prisoners you could've captured, you pick the defiant one." Grodus grumbled. "You get one last chance. Give me the location of that map and the Crystal Stars! You DID have it in your hands and you WILL give me the information that you already have!"
"Hmph. I'd like to see you try if I don't." Peach smirked.
"Oh, you're going to regret those words." Grodus growled, his staff about to glow as Peach was ready to throw down… and then a TV screen popped up.
"Sir Grodus! I have news! …Did I come in at the wrong time?"
"No… you didn't." Grodus said, putting his staff away. "What is it?"
"Uhh... you know that Crystal Star that Hooktail possesses? Weeell… someone kinda snatch it and Hooktail is kiiiiinda dead."
"Kinda? What do you mean KINDA?!" Grodus yelled.
"Well, according to the report, a group of people already beat us to it. From what one of our men gathered… there was a man in red and blue overalls, a Koopa, two young men with weapons such as a Tachi, a Japanese sword, a polearm weapon identified as a Glaive, a young man samurai who can manipulate the wind, and a little girl who can control some sort of black mechanical machine that appears and disappear at once!"
"WHAT!"
"Oh… and there was also this nobody with them too. Some guy in green and was taller compared to the short red man. There's an L on his cap, and the report believe that stands for Loser. Wow… talk about setting high standards there." He sarcastically said. "Something tells me this nobody isn't a threat. Buuuuut they also mentioned they grabbed the Crystal Star too."
Peach gasped, as she knew exactly who they were talking about. "The Mario Bros, Rean, and Levi?!" She exclaimed out loud by accident. She didn't recognize the Koopa or the Samurai, nor the girl, but she had a small suspicion the samurai who can manipulate the wind is Kazuha, someone who she hasn't seen for quite some time. And the black rabbit girl must have been Altina, someone she remember back in Erebonia.
"Hmm? You seem to know these people. You gave them that map, didn't you!" Grodus exclaimed as Peach paled a bit. "Guards! Take the princess to her room! I must study more on these Mario Bros and this Rean and Levi… But do NOT harm her." Grodus ordered.
"Yessir!" An X-Naut said and escorted the princess away, while the TV screen disappeared.
"Well, Crump… if these characters have the map and grabbing the Crystal Stars, then that must mean the next Crystal Star they're going after next is in the Boggly Woods."
"Hmm… now that you mention it, it would be plausible." Crump mused.
"And in that case, you must return there at once... and do NOT disappoint me! Understand?"
Crump paled. "Oh, uh… yes…If you excuse me... POW! I'm gone!" He said and took off running.
"Hmm… I wonder if sending Crump out there alone was a good idea. He might need some back up." Grodus mused. "X-Naut!"
An X-Naut came by and saluted. "Oh Uta... Why?! Uh… I mean, you rang dude, sir! No, wait… Bubbles, no wait, I mean…"
Grodus sighed. "Have you been watching that anime movie Bubbles again? I knew it was a bad idea... though the music was good... stop before you embarrass yourself."
"Right!"
"Bring me the Shadow Sirens."
The X-Naut gulped. "Th-the Shadow Sirens, sir?"
"Don't make me repeat myself!"
"Yipe! U-Understood!" The X-Naut exclaimed and took off running.
"Hmm? The honorable Grodus wants to see us? Then we must not delay!" A voice said, and then three purple ghost-like creatures appeared before them.
One was beautiful and two were just downright ugly.
"We are here, Sir Grodus." The ugly old cretin, Beldam, said. "Have Princess Peach tell you the whereabouts of the map?"
"Hold that tongue of yours Beldam. We would already have the map if you haven't snatched it from her sooner." Grodus growled
"You cannot fault me when there are too many eyes everywhere. Not to mention some old man show up at the moment of truth. We had no choice but to retreat."
"Hmph. Well some fools call the Mario Bros, Rean and Levi have it. They're headed to Boggly Woods next. Go there and stop them along with their friends."
"Of course. What do they look like?"
"Sir Grodus!" An X-Naut came running in. "We just got a sketch on what the gang looks like!" He said and handed the sketch to him.
"They look like this." Grodus said, handing the old cretin a sketch with the Mario Bros, Rean and Levi in it.
"Ah, yes… this will do." Beldam said and put it away. "Come along, my lovelies! We must not dawdle a second longer." She ordered and then sunk to the ground.
"Guuuh." Marilyn, the largely fat and ugly one said and went underground.
"Hmmhmmhmm, right." The third, the fairest of them all, Vivian, said and sunk underground.
(BGM ended)
Meanwhile, with Peach…
(Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door ost - Peach's Theme)
Peach sighed as she was in her room, sitting on the bed. "I can't believe this… to think I've been kidnapped by those… those freaks! In broad daylight and out in public, even! This is exactly what Toadsworth is afraid of. Oh geez. Oh, Mario… Luigi… I hope you can come to rescue me." She sighed. "I'm surprised Rean and Levi are with them. Are the rest of Class VII with them too? I hope they can rescue me too. But where in the world I am… I don't think they serve Bowser either."
She then sighed again and then pulled out five Pokeballs and called out were her Comfey, Togepi, Cutiefly, Azurill, and Feebas. "Ah Comfey, Togepi, Cutiefly, Azurill, and Feebas, I'm glad I have you guys as company."
"Comfey!" Her Comfey smiled and happily wrapped herself around Peach's neck as she smiled while her Togepi, Cutiefly, and Azurill happily circle around her, while her Feebas flopped on over and rested her body on her leg, seeming to be alright despite being a fish out of water.
As Peach lightly stroked the Feebas' head, she closed her eyes and waited for her friends to come rescue her, and as she was in her own world, picturing the Mario Bros and Class VII beating the crap out of Grodus, the door in front of her opened up.
"Hmm? Mario?" Peach asked as she opened her eyes, but no one came in. "That's odd... then the door open by itself?"
"Azurill?" Peach's Azurill tilt her head before Peach stood up, picking up her Feebas holding her in her arms while Cutiefly flew over to investigate, but spotted nothing.
Cutie urged the others to come forward as Peach walked forward and found herself in the hallway.
"Hmm... no one's here." She wondered. "Must be a malfunction… which means…" She grinned and happily went over to the elevator as she thought she could sneak her way out… but instead, the elevator door wouldn't open. "Dangit!" She groaned. "I guess not everything is malfunctioning." She said and then chuckled. "That's what I get for being hopeful, I suppose."
Another door opened, catching the groups's attention as they cautiously went into the room and found a huge supercomputer. "No one's here either..." Peach quietly said.
(BGM ended)
"Oh but there is." A voice said, making them all jump as Peach's Feebas jumped out of Peach's arms, ready to tackle whoever said it as the other pokemon got in a fighting position while Peach got in a karate pose.
"Who said that? Show yourself!" Peach ordered.
"I am already showing myself." The voice continued as the three looked at the computer. "Hello, Princess Peach."
"…Okay, I've officially lost it. A computer is talking to me." Peach groaned.
"I can assure you you didn't lose your mind. I am TEC-XX. This laboratory's main computer. You may call me TEC."
"Uh… okaaaaaay…"
"Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer one that is flawless in its reason. But I'm also the one who opens the doors to bring you here."
"So you're the one who opened those doors? Why?"
"Because… I want to learn more about you and your Pokemon."
"Togi?" Peach's Togepi tilted her head, unsure what to think of the computer.
"Uh… okay, that's not creepy at all." Peach sweatdrop.
"I have been designed to keep an eye on you at all times. That is what I have been intended to do by Grodus."
"Oh GREAT! Now Grodus is a complete stalker! Just what I needed. At least Bowser had the decency to leave me alone whenever he locked me in a cage! Grodus is just… ugh… it makes me sick! Something is seriously wrong with him!"
"There is nothing wrong with Grodus. He is the best man of all time."
Peach rolled her eyes. "Give me a break. That guy has a few screws loose!"
"I assure you, he doesn't have a screw inside his body."
Peach facepalmed. "Not what I meant! Ugh… but anyway, why are you keeping an eye on me in general?"
"Because-"
"Because what? Because you want to win Employee of the Month to THAT loser? Or is it because you're in love with me?" Peach asked before it dawned on her. "Okay, poor choice of words."
"Love? What is… love? Is it some sort of song that I never heard of before? Does it have something to do with that anime movie the X-Nauts watch? I am the world's smartest computer… yet I can't comprehend love."
Peach gave him a 'seriously?' look. "Love isn't something you comprehend, you feel it. Love is like something… um… okay, this is difficult to explain."
"There is no need to wrap your brain around it. I will figure it out in due time. So tell me… are you in love with anyone?"
"Well, um… not entirely…" Peach quietly said, but noticed her pokemon were giving her a look that said 'What a load of crap'. "Oh, fine, I'm in love with Mario!"
"Mario… you have mentioned him before." TEC mentioned. "Tell me, what do you see in this "Mario"?"
"Well, at first, when he first rescued me, I kissed him on the nose in gratitude, but… overtime, as we hung out and got to know one another… Things got more... warm between us."
"It seems you have feelings with this Mario."
"I do… and I think he feels the same way, but I'm not entirely sure." Peach quietly said.
"…I will have to look this up later." TEC said. "Do you wish to email this Mario?"
"Oh, you have email? Well… I guess I can tell him where I'm at, wherever I may be."
"That's classified."
"Of course... I should know better..." Peach groaned and then walked over to his keyboard, and started to type up a message. "Love, Peach." She said and put in a little heart next to her name. "Alright, send it away!"
"Can do." TEC said and then sent the email to him. "Alright, it is sent."
"Alright, I'm heading back to my room." Peach said. "Come on, you guys." She said as she picked up her Feebas and walked back to her room with the group.
"Good night, Princess Peach." TEC said.
Meanwhile…
(Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door ost - Bowsers theme)
At Bowser's Castle, Bowser walked into his throne room. "THE KING OF THE KOOPAS HAS ARRIVED!" He roared loudly. "Alright, minions! You can stop clapping."
"I don't think they were clapping." Roman said as he appeared behind him with Neo, Crow and Mona.
"What? they're not clapping at their awesome king?!"
"I think their arms are pretty tired at this point." Crow shrug
"Eh, whatever… so what did those two boneheads want with us anyway?" Bowser asked.
"Well if you want to find out "Oh King of Awesomeness" I propose we find out." Mona said as they walked forward to the throne room.
"So here I was, making sure Bowser wasn't looking, and then I proceeded to-"
"Uh, you might want to put a cork in this story, dude!" A Hammer Bro warned.
"Man, you should've seen-… huh?" The other Hammer Bro turned to see Bowser standing behind him. "YIPE!"
"Go on, I'm dying to hear the rest of this story, Mr. Comedian." Bowser challenged.
"Uh… I'm not funny, sir!"
"He's not funny, sir!"
Bowser chuckled. "That's what I thought." He said as he walked to his throne as the Hammer Bros sighed with relief… and just when Bowser got to his throne, the doors opened as they turned around and saw Kammy and Kamek approaching them.
"Your Nastiness!" Kamek exclaimed as they flew over to them.
"What is it?" Bowser asked. "This better be good. I was going to do some training with Crow!"
"Well, you see… The Mario bros are currently away from the Mushroom Kingdom." Kammy began.
"Mario and Luigi are not in the Mushroom Kingdom at the moment?" Mona asked.
"You call me here for this? So I look like a babysitter to those clowns? Why should I care they're not here now?" Bowser also asked.
Neo rubbed her chin in thought and then snapped her fingers. "Wait!" She said via signs. "I think they mean that with those two are away, you can kidnap Peach."
"Oooooh!" Bowser grinned. "In that case, we swoop on in, grab her, and watch the looks on their faces. Bwahahahahaha!"
"Right… about that…" Kamek quietly said. "You see, someone already kidnapped Peach."
"…What? Did you just say Peach has been kidnapped? WHO?!" He yelled. "No one kidnaps her except me! OF ALL THE NERVES! WHO DARE KIDNAP MY PRINCESS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?!" Bowser roared, stomping his foot impatiently, which was enough to scare the Koopatrols.
"Okay big guy, cool your jets! I get that you're angry and that's usually your thing, but let's focus on the part about what happened, yeah?" Crow remark. "Any reason why Peach was kidnapped from an unknown party? And does it have something to do with the bros out of town?"
"Yes, you see, there's this treasure that the Mario Bros are after." Kamek said.
"T-Treasure?" Bowser asked, calming down.
"Treasure, you say?" Roman mused.
"But they're not alone, apparently Rean and Levi are with them too, as well as that samurai fellow awhile back." Kamek added
"Even Rean and Levi?" Crow blicked
"Samurai fellow? Wait, you mean Kazuha?" Mona asked
"The very same. But there was another person with them. I believe her name was Altina back then." Kamek added
"The Black Rabbit? What is she doing with them?" Crow asked
"Don't know, but what we do know is that they're on a journey to collect star-shaped jewels called Crystal Stars for who knows what, but for whatever reason, they're not working for Wario." Kammy said.
"Hmm... In that case, what are these Crystal Stars?" Mona asked
"We're not sure, yet. But we are researching them... but there's no question of their high value."
"Interesting. Those sounds like world-conquering tools! In that case, keep researching them!"
"Okay, while you're doing that, there's still something that's bothering me. Where and why was Peach kidnapped." Crow said.
"According to the investigation, Princess Peach was kidnapped in a place called Rogueport." Kamek answered
"In that case, I know what to do." Bowser smirked
"Oh no..." Mona palmface.
"Oh yes! When we get to Rogueport, we're gonna get the treasure first, pummel those losers, and re-kidnap the princess while destroying those wannabe kidnappers! It's perfect! BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"That's the spirit!" Kamek said.
Bowser took off running, while Roman and Neo did the same… and then they came back in Koopa Clown Cars, with Roman and Neo's being personalized as Roman had an orange color to it while Neo's had a Neopolitan style to it as they flew out by tearing a hole in the wall with Bowser in the lead.
"H-hey! Wait for us!" Kamek exclaimed as he and Kammy, Crow and Mona took off after them. Just like Roman and Neo, Crow and Mona's had their personalization their Koopa Clown Car. Crow was azure color while Mona was blue-purple.
"Hey Papa!" Junior came walking in. "Papaaaa! Where are you?" He asked.
"Ah, the young prince!" A Koopa said. "Your father and his friends went on some quest, and they hope to fight Mario in the process along with rekidnapping the princess."
"Oh! Well, I want to join them too!" Junior said, getting in his own Koopa Clown Car and then flying off into the same hole that the others flew out of. "Wait for me Papa!" He said and took off, unaware that he was flying in the opposite direction of where the others were heading to.
"...So uh, what do we do since Bowser is currently gone?" A Koopa asked.
"Party?" A Goomba suggested.
"I'm down for that!" A Shy Guy agreed to the idea.
"Then let's party until Bowser gets back!" The Koopa exclaimed.
The Minion let out a cheered and then turn on some party music.
And the intermission part is finished for now. Next up with Mario and the others plan to do next!