Outside of the snow smothered Castle, walking hand in hand through the peacefully quiet, icy Garden, Luigi and Daisy enjoyed their privacy as they exchanged stories and laughed with one another during their joyful stroll. As the pure white flakes continued to fall with a silent gentleness a chilly breeze began blowing across the land. The breeze continued to steadily grow in both intensity and chill which caused Daisy to begin shivering with each step.

Wrapping his arm around Daisy's shoulders in an attempt to help keep her warm, Luigi guided her toward the modest pond at the rear of the Garden. "Are you cold? Do you want to head back to the Castle?" Being the gentleman as usual Luigi didn't want her to feel pressured to continue walking about in the chilly weather.

"No." Daisy refused the offer, not wanting to ruin a nice stroll with her beloved Luigi. "I'll be okay once the wind dies down a little."

"You're sure?" He asked sincerely as he patted his overall pocket with his free hand, confirming that the gift was still safe.

"Positive!"

Turning down a small path the couple made their way to the frozen pond and stood at the shoreline together, watching as the wind caused the flowers that had been sheathed in ice to sway rhythmically where they had sprouted from the now frozen earth.

"It's so beautiful..." Daisy remarked as she watched the waning sunlight glisten through the crystalline ice fixtures all around her.

"You're beautiful." Luigi replied quickly, feeling his face redden with blush. "Uh..."

Daisy blushed in response and stood closer to him, wanting him to hug her in a warm embrace. "And you're the sweetest man I've ever met." She responded softly. "I'm so glad to have you in my life."

Feeling as though the moment couldn't be any better Luigi reached into his pocket ready to present to her the gift he had been secretly keeping at his side. "Daisy, I have something for you, and I-"

Daisy let out a whimper as she shuddered violently in Luigi's arms.

"D-Daisy?!" Luigi removed his hand from his pocket, use both hands to hold her steady as she began trembling. "Are you alright?"

"I-I don't know!" Daisy admitted feeling suddenly very weak even as Luigi's strong arms wrapped around her.

"We better get you back to the Castle! You're freezing!" Scooping Daisy up into his arms Luigi carried the chilled Princess toward the massive Castle in the distance. "Why didn't you tell me you were so cold?"

"B-because it j-just hit me! Out of nowhere!" She confessed between her now chattering teeth as she pressed her body closer to Luigi's, resting her head against his shoulder. "S-s-so cold!"

"Don't worry Daisy!" Luigi soothed as he reached the exit of the Garden with a swift stride. "You'll be inside the Castle soon!"

Mario held Peach in his arms and across his lap while she fitfully dozed in her bizarre cold induced state of unconsciousness. She trembled violently as the horrendous cold that seemed to permeate her entire body continued to reek havoc.

"Peach..." Mario wrapped the thick blanket tighter around her and rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "What can I do to help you?"

A light knocking on the door caught Mario's attention. Looking up as the door creaked open Mario locked eyes with Toadsworth who entered in a controlled panic. "Princess! Master Mario! It's dreadful! You must-" The elder Toad froze midsentence when he saw Peach unconscious in Mario's arms. "No!" Rushing to her side, stepping over the shards of the broken teacup on the floor, he kneeled down beside the fallen Princess and took her hand between both of his. "Not her too!"

"Huh? 'Her too'?" Mario asked with both fear and intrigue mounting in his otherwise calm voice. "Toadsworth, do you know what's happening to her?"

"I believe so." Shaking his head grimly Toadsworth braced himself for the upsetting news he was sent to deliver. "I fear our Princess has fallen ill." Locking eyes with Mario his voice lowered sadly. "And she is not the first."

"Ill? What kind of illness does this to a person?" Mario inquired with absolute confusion. "I've never seen any virus that makes a person suffer from extreme hypothermia."

"No one has." Toadsworth admitted solemnly. "Two cases have been reported at the hospital. Both Toads have the same symptoms as Princess Peach. I was on my way to inform Princess Peach of this curious dilemma, but now..." Bowing his head he let out a weary sigh. "it appears she's just as vulnerable as the rest of the Kingdom."

Rushing into the room with Daisy in his arms, Luigi was stopped in his tracks at the sight of Peach, Mario and Toadsworth gathered on the floor in front of the burning hearth. "Mario! What... What happened to Princess Peach?" Looking down at Daisy, who was silently in distress and shivering in arms, a horrible thought entered his mind. 'What if the cold did this? What if it keeps snowing?'

Mario looked up at his younger brother sadly. "She's ill!" Seeing Daisy in Luigi's protective arms only made Mario's heart sink further. "And it looks like it's spreading. Daisy, too..."

"Uh-oh..." Luigi tightened his grip on Daisy as he felt her becoming heavier. Like Peach before her, she was now unconscious and lost in an icy slumber. "We better get the Princesses to the hospital, fast! Maybe the doctors can help them!"

Nodding with absolute agreement Mario scooped Peach up from the floor and held her securely in his arms. "Let's go!"

"Please, Master Mario, Master Luigi;" Toadsworth watched as the two brothers exited the room with the Princesses in their arms. "do what you can to save our Princesses! If the Mushroom Kingdom or Sarassaland were to lose their royal heirs, then the Kingdoms will collapse into anarchy and war!"

Pausing briefly in the doorway at Toadsworth's words, the brothers exchanged concerned glances before squaring their shoulder confidently and continuing on their way to the nearby hospital.

Toadsworth stood up slowly and gazed into the fire in the hearth. "I do hope it's not too late." Glancing over his shoulder to the large window he watched with sadness welling in his eyes at the falling snowing and strengthening wind. "Have mercy on us all..."

...to be continued...