Luigi sat beside Daisy's bed in the dark but incredibly warm room, his hand gently resting on her still trembling arm beneath the numerous blankets that covered her hypothermic body. The identification of the ailment that threatened the lives of both Princesses, as well as the numerous Toads throughout the Mushroom Kingdom, only added further weight to Luigi's already heavy heart.

The two Princesses had shown no sign of recovery, no change in the severity of the conditions. Like a fairy tale it seemed the fair maidens were lost in the throes of spell, just waiting for Prince Charming's kiss to awaken them from their deep slumber.

Dr. Toadley's words echoed through his mind as his teary blue eyes watched his beloved Daisy laying unconscious in the hospital bed.

Mario and Luigi had seated themselves across from Dr. Toadley in the diagnostic lab of the hospital with eager anticipation. Neither brother knew what to think of the situation, let alone the proper course of action to save Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and the many others who had fallen ill.

"The only way to cure the effects of the pollen," Dr. Toadley explained with a somber but professional tone. "is to use the pollen itself to create a type of inoculation. As I've previously stated the rarity of the offending pollen makes both the illness and the cure equally difficult to obtain."

Luigi sank back in his seat while Mario leaned forward across the table. "But it is obtainable?"

Nodding Dr. Toadley offered very little emotion that leaned toward optimism. "It is. But seeing as the pollen originated in the snow, and the snow came from the blizzard..."

"...Then the cure is lost in that same blizzard..." Mario realized with a downcast faced. "And traveling through a blizzard is nearly impossible."

"You see the problem." Dr. Toadley hopped down from his chair and walked toward the far wall where a large glass cabinet fill with glass vials stood. "I've only had two other previous cases of this kind of infection," he remarked as he opened the cabinet doors and took an empty vial from the back of the bottom shelf. "the only trace amount of the inoculation I have left have long since expired." He showed the bottle to the brothers. "And there is no way any deliveries can be made through the blizzard in time."

Mario shook his head with disbelief. "There's no way to make any more?"

"I'm afraid not." Dr. Toadley confirmed as he let out a defeated sigh. "I'll need a sample of the pollen that has affected our people if I am to create a viable inoculate. And our patients are all far too weak to gather any samples from physically to use."

Luigi had a thought, though he couldn't bring himself to lock eyes with the doctor. "What if we sent a message to the Western towns or villages? Maybe somebody there can gather a sample and meet up with somebody to finish the delivery."

Dr. Toadley pondered the notion thoughtfully before returning to the desk. "I can try to send a message to HavenBrooke Village, a colleague of mine works at the clinic in the town. Perhaps he can send us help."

Mario looked over at Luigi and could see the same sense of dread in his eyes as he felt in his own heart. "We'll go back upstairs. Keep an eye on things and report back to you if anything changes."

"Good idea." Dr. Toadley agreed. "If we can't get any pollen sample then all we can do is hope that our patients are strong enough to recover naturally."

Walking slowly to the elevator, side by side, Mario and Luigi didn't say a word. No words were needed as the emotion of the situation expressed more than any words ever could.

"Weege?" Mario's voice pulled Luigi out of his trance and back into the bleak reality that surrounded him. "How are they doing?" He asked as he took his seat beside Peach's bed and held her icy hand tightly between his strong, warmer hands.

"The same." Luigi replied with palpable sorrow. "Any word from HavenBrooke Village?"

Mario paused and swallowed nervously before replying. A nervousness that did not escape Luigi's notice. "The villagers found many samples of the pollen but... but traversing the blizzard is impossible. No one can pass through the storm."

Luigi put his other hand on Daisy's arm and bowed his head. "What now?"

"We wait."

"That's easier for us than it is for them..." His remark was biting, but justified.

"I know." Mario gently stroked Peach's face with the side of his hand, shuddering himself at how uncharacteristically cold she felt. "I don't think they can wait."

Luigi knew all too well when Mario was holding back and in his heart knew something awful had happened. "Mario, what aren't you telling me?"

Taking in a deep breath Mario shut his eyes as he prepared to deliver the bad news. "We lost one."

Luigi's heart ached despite not knowing who it was who had passed on. "Wh-who was it?"

"Mrs. Amanita. The elderly Toad who lived across from the library."

"Did... Did she...?"

"No." Mario confirmed. "It was peaceful. Her family was with her."

'Family.' Luigi thought to himself as he focused on Daisy's resting form. "We can't lose anyone else."

"I know, bro. But we can't do anything."

A respectful silence hushed the room as the brothers mourned the loss of an innocent Toad citizen. The only sound that resonated through the room was the steady hum of the many heaters that lined the room, and the quiet beeping of the monitors which measured the Princesses vitals.

A soft knocking at the opened door caught the brothers' attention as a Toad nurse stepped into the room. "Mario, Luigi, we have more patients arriving. Dr. Toadley would like one of you to assist him."

"I'll go." Mario volunteered as he tucked the top of the many blankets up closer to Peach's chin. "I... I need the distraction. Just for a little while, anyway." He gave Peach's hand one lost thoughtful squeeze before following the nurse out of the room and to the newest patient down the hall. "Show me the way."

Alone with the two Princesses Luigi couldn't help but imagine the worst. Losing either Princess would devastate the Kingdoms, let alone break the hearts of the heroic brothers, but losing two perfectly kind, smart and gentle people to such a random and strange illness seemed to impossible to actually happen.

"Daisy, I can't wait. And I know you wouldn't want to just sit around and see what happens." He stood beside her bed, one hand on her arm and the other reaching into his overall pocket for the small gift he was going to give her earlier. "There's something I've been meaning to do, but I can't do it alone. I need you!"

His mind was made up. He was not going to wait around any longer.

"Don't be mad at me for doing this, but I have to." Slipping off his white lab coat he draped it over Daisy and kissed her cheek lightly as he brushed a lock of auburn hair from her face. "I'll come back to you, I promise."

Before he stepped out of the room he gave Daisy one last glance over his shoulder and turned his head to look at Peach as well. "You are both too important to lose. The Kingdoms need you, I need you, Mario needs you!. Please, hold on."

...to be continued...