Peach stared in horror at the seven unconscious Guardians. She rushed to Ruby and felt for a pulse, but there was none. She looked up at Cyanara. "You've killed them!"

"So it might seem," agreed the Empress, still smiling at her victory, "but such is not the case. They only sleep. The Pendant has drained much of their power from them."

Athos attempted to get to Amethyst, but one of the guards struck him down with a fist.

Cyanara glared at Athos, then cast her eyes on the unconscious Amethyst—or rather the spot where Amethyst should have been. The Empress's eyes widened.

Amethyst was gone.

"Where is she?" Cyanara demanded, eyes roving over the group of prisoners.

Athos's face betrayed horror. "Amethyst –" He too scanned the room, desperately searching for his fiancée. She was nowhere to be seen. Instead of seven unconscious Guardians lying scattered across the floor, there were only six. Amethyst was missing.

"I said WHERE IS SHE!?" shouted the Empress, black eyes flashing.

"I-I don't know!" Peach stammered, trembling at her sister's rage. "She just disappeared!"

Cyanara seethed. "One of you must know. Tell me NOW!!"

"We do not know!" Athos shouted back. "I only wish I did!!"

At this, the Empress seemed to lose some of her anger. "Very well, traitor Athos," she replied coldly. "I'll take your word for it. But if you're lying—when I find her, she'll suffer because of you. Is that clear?"

Athos said nothing.

Mario groaned and stirred. The rain poured onto his exposed face, running down his neck and into his collar. Weakly he turned his face away from the heavy downpour as he lay on the soggy forest floor, soaked and chilled.

"Agh—ouch!" he exclaimed as he attempted to get up. Every muscle in his body felt like a burning knot inside him, causing intense pain when he tried to move. He had no choice but to remain still, exposed to the fury of the elements. Lightning flashed through the trees, and the wind howled like a wolf, almost drowning out the roar of a million raindrops drenching the earth.

Eventually Mario's muscles relaxed and he could move again. Slowly he got to his feet and saw Luigi not ten feet away, also struggling to his feet. He stumbled over to his sibling.

"We gotta get out of this rain," Mario yelled over the storm. Luigi nodded weakly. Together the brothers limped through the forest back toward Toad Town, intending to find shelter.

Without warning Mario ran smack into something he couldn't see and fell backward. Luigi helped him up, and they started forward again. This time, both were knocked over. Getting to his feet in the pouring rain, Mario reached out a hand into the apparently empty space in front of him—and rested it against a solid wall, completely invisible to their eyes. Mario and Luigi looked at each other.

"Looks like we're not going back, bro," Mario said hopelessly. "For some reason we're stuck out here—trapped."

As Mario finished speaking, both he and Luigi heard something nearby. They cocked their ears. There it was again. It sounded like a moan. Quickly the brothers began straining their eyes into the gloom of the fierce storm, looking for the source of the sound. After a few minutes of scanning their rain-drenched surroundings, Luigi motioned to Mario, and the two cautiously approached a nearby cluster of trees.

"I think it came from in there," Luigi half-whispered, pointing into the clump of foliage. Slowly the brothers pushed their way into the dense brush. Here the rain did not fall as hard, thanks to the shelter of the trees' thick leafy canopies overhead. The two were tense, alert for any noise or movement.

Then Mario saw her. She lay among the trees as if she'd been thrown there, her purple hair wet and matted from the downpour. Her eyes were closed, but she moved slightly every few seconds and moaned infrequently. From her heaving chest, Mario could tell she was frightened, even though the rain's rhythmic beat drowned out the sound of her breathing. But one feature made Mario recognize her instantly. It was her robe—a rainbow-colored robe. He started.

"That's Amethyst!"

Mario rushed to the young woman and shook her. "Amethyst! What are you doing out here like this?!"

Suddenly the seventh Guardian sat bolt upright and wrenched herself away from Mario, a deep fear in her eyes. "D-Don't hurt me!"

"It's just me, Mario," the plumber assured her, wondering at her behavior. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, thank goodness it's you!" Amethyst's eyes welled with tears.

"You're supposed to be on Peach's plane, heading for Sarasaland! Why are you all the way out here?" Luigi asked.

Amethyst shivered in the bone-chilling downpour. She was completely soaked. "T-The plane didn't make it."

Mario's stomach dropped into his shoes. "Don't tell me it crashed! Please, no!"

"N-No, no crash." Amethyst shuddered. "Worse."

"Worse?!" A clap of thunder almost obliterated Mario's exclamation. "What could possibly be worse?!"

"The plane was hijacked."

Mario was stunned. "By who? Where was it taken?"

"Some of the castle staff betrayed us all. They flew us to the Great One's fortress. She's...she's still alive."

"Impossible!" Mario exploded.

"I saw her with my own eyes, Mario. She's alive, and worse yet, we know her real identity. Her name is Cyanara—and she's Peach's older sister!"

"No way!" Mario shook his head. "It's a known fact that Peach's older sister was exiled when she was eighteen. She's back?!"

"And that's not even the worst part! She used the power of the Rainbow Pendant to drain the power from us Guardians!" Amethyst shuddered again. "Then..."

"Then what?" Luigi asked breathlessly.

"She split the Mushroom Kingdom into eight separate dimensions, one for every rainbow color." Amethyst did not feel the need to explain the concept of an eight-colored rainbow to the brothers. She knew they understood. "The kingdom's been rifted, Mario. Split in pieces! The Mushroom Kingdom, as a whole, no longer exists!"

"So that's why we ran into that invisible barrier," Mario guessed. "That's the edge of this particular dimension. Is there any way we can possibly undo the damage?"

Amethyst shook her head in the rain. "I'm sorry, Mario. I don't know. But I don't...think you can..."

"What have you done?!" Peach cried as Cyanara returned the Pendant necklace to its place about her neck.

The Empress's eyes smoldered as they stared at Peach. "You know the old adage, Peach. Divide and conquer. I've just cut 'your' little kingdom into eight pieces. Eight pieces of succulent pie—and I'm very hungry for them." She smiled wickedly. "Guards. Take Peach to the holding room. Put the Guardians into the special solitary confinement cells. And confiscate the Rainbow Discs. The others—disarm them and throw them in the dungeon." The Paroidians immediately obeyed, removing the Discs from the Guardians' robes and giving them to Cyanara. Then they herded the captives out of the throne room. Six burly guards carried the limp Guardians out.

Cyanara stood on the blood-red carpet, holding six of the eight Rainbow Discs. She gloated over them with an evil glint in her eyes. She turned her gaze to the Pendant about her neck, then to the eight Rainbow Rings on her fingers.

"Fifteen of the fabled objects are mine," she breathed craftily. "Only two Discs remain to be found; then I will possess all the power of the rainbow. Then—then who will be able to stand against me?"

She threw her head back and laughed.

"No one!"

Empress Cyanara strode to the window of her throne room, still laughing, and gazed out over the town below her fortress, mentally roving over her personal domain in evil delight. "I think I'll have a talk with little sister. It's about time she found out exactly what's going on. After all, my guests have a right to know what I'm doing." She laughed again. "Guard!"

A single Paroidian entered the room and saluted.

"Tell Peach I'd like to have her join me for dinner tonight—just the two of us." Her eyes sparkled in glee. The guard bowed, turned on his heel, and left.

"Princess."

Hesitantly Peach answered, her voice quavering. "C-Come in."

The door to the small but comfortable holding room swung open, and in walked a single Paroidian guard. Peach cringed. Her breathing quickened, and she backed against the miniature refrigerator.

"I have not come to harm you," spoke the guard in a cold, metallic voice. "The Great One would like you to dine with her tonight."

Peach looked startled. "Me? She wants me to—to eat with her? Alone?" Her tone was one of uncertainty.

The guard nodded solemnly, waiting for a definite response.

What is she planning? wondered Peach. What could she want to see me alone for? Is this a trap? Is she going to— Peach stopped and heaved a great sigh before answering.

"Tell her...I'll come."

"That still doesn't answer my first question," Mario shouted over the noise of rushing wind and pouring rain. "How did you get way out here when you were in the Great One's—I mean Cyanara's—fortress?"

"...I don't know..." Amethyst was clearly puzzled. "How far are we from the fortress?"

"About four miles, maybe more," Luigi guessed.

"The dimensional rifting must have affected me somehow," Amethyst concluded. "But why only me? Why not the others as well? Oh, Athos, what's happening to you?" Her tears mingled with the rain streaming down her face.

"We're doing no good just standing out here," Mario said at last. "Let's find some shelter from this weather!" He helped the young lady to her feet, and the three companions started off through the stormy, rain-drenched forest to seek shelter from the incessant downpour.

Princess Peach walked slowly into the dining hall, the place she'd been told dinner would be served. Her Paroidian escort remained outside to ensure that she would not attempt to escape.

Before the Princess was outspread a luxuriant feast on the long silver dining table. Two silver chairs faced each other from the long sides of the table, and Peach hesitantly started toward one of them.

"Oh, where are my manners?" asked a cheerful voice from the opposite side of the room. Peach looked up quickly to see Cyanara herself entering the room through the far door. The Empress laughed lightly at Peach's startled expression. "Please, sit down." Following her own directive, Cyanara seated herself at the table and beckoned Peach to do the same. Hesitantly the Princess sat down directly across the table from her older sister, watching her sibling closely.

"Shall we begin?" asked the Empress, beginning to heap her plate with food.

Peach looked from side to side, scanning the length of the table. Roast duck, quail, pheasant, more pasta dishes than she could count, peaches, grapes, oranges, and a tremendous devil's food cake were just the beginning of the massive selection. Her head snapped up, and she locked eyes with her older sister.

"How do I know it's not poisoned?"

Cyanara set her plate in front of herself and gave her younger sibling a disapproving look. "Not taking any chances with me, are you, Peach?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she spoke.

"I've learned that it's not exactly safe to do so," Peach replied evenly, folding her hands and settling them in her lap. "Thank you, but no thank you."

The Empress laughed. "Discerning as always, little sister." She leaned forward slightly. "Are you sure you're not going to eat?"

Peach shook her head.

"Very well, then," Cyanara said comfortably as she settled back in her chair, leaving her own steaming plate untouched. "I had hoped we could have our discussion over dinner, but I suppose having it before dinner won't hurt." She smiled.

There was a heavy silence for what seemed an eternity.

"What do you want from me?" Peach finally asked, voice quiet.

"Quick to cut through veneer and get down to business, aren't you?" Cyanara asked nonchalantly. "You might guess what I want. As if I hadn't told you before."

"My crown."

"Precisely." Cyanara's eyes glittered.

"You don't mean that," Peach corrected. "If you were really after just the crown, you'd have killed me last time, when you had the chance. But you didn't." She eyed her hostile sibling. "What are you really after?"

"Seeing through it all, aren't you?" asked Cyanara with a little chuckle. "I am after the crown—a crown that is rightfully mine—ah-ah, Peach, hear me out," she broke in as Peach attempted to interrupt. "You'll get your chance to speak, I promise. But let me finish. It's written in the law of the Mushroom Kingdom that I am never to sit on the throne as ruler. Correct?"

Peach nodded, wondering where the conversation was headed.

"And there is no way for me to overturn that edict, correct?"

"That's right."

"Then, according to law, who is the only one who can repeal that pronouncement and restore me to my rightful place?"

Peach started. "You wouldn't dare..."

"It's you, Peach," Cyanara said suavely. "Like it or not, I must acknowledge your current position as ruler. You are the only one who can give me my throne back. You, however, are now in my power. Go ahead—take another guess as to what I'm really after."

"I'll never do such a thing!" Peach exclaimed hotly. "You can torment me all you like, but I'll never sign the Mushroom Kingdom over into your filthy hands!"

"Petty insults don't become a princess," Cyanara remarked sarcastically. "You will do as I say."

"Over my dead body will you rule the Mushroom Kingdom, Cyanara. And I mean that—literally!"

"Someday it may come to that, then, Peach," answered the Empress coldly. "First, however, I'll give you a chance to save your own worthless life. If you won't give in, then I'll have to resort to more...painful methods of extraction." Her black eyes burned with hidden anger. "Anyone who may have remained behind in your castle is already dead. I gave my guards express orders to spare no one."

Peach gasped. "No! You didn't!"

"Yes." Cyanara's cold black eyes leered at her sister. "You would be wise to cooperate and avoid further bloodshed."

"I'll never give you control of the Mushroom Kingdom!" cried Peach.

Cyanara fixed Peach with a look so full of hatred that Peach shrank back in fear. "Oh, you won't, will you?" inquired the Empress bitterly. Her eyes narrowed. "We'll just see about that." She snapped her fingers, and two Paroidian Guards stepped up to Peach's chair and wrenched her from her seat.

"Take her back to the holding room," instructed the Empress coldly.

"You can't be trusted, Cyanara!!" Peach screamed as the guards dragged her from the dining room.

Cyanara smiled and began her meal.

Mario, Luigi, and Amethyst covered their ears against the deafening thunder as they dashed along the muddy, rain-slick trails, seeking shelter from the storm. The leafy canopy overhead deflected some of the raindrops, but the millions that were not impeded in their fall plunged straight down onto the forest floor, making Mario's every step a treacherous mire. On the three companions ran, looking for a cabin, a cave, anything that would serve to keep them dry.

Of course the first accident would happen to Luigi.

One minute he was beside Mario. The next his feet went out from under him as he stepped too close to a downward-sloping side trail, and away he went, sliding madly down the shallow slope on the seat of his pants, yelling frantically the whole way. Mario, startled, also lost his balance and went sliding down right after Luigi. Amethyst stared after the two as they shot down the slippery slope.

Luigi hit bottom and began to slow down. "Whew!" he said in relief as he wiped the rainwater from his face. "That was actually kinda fun—"

The ground dropped away beneath him, and before he could even yell, he was bouncing down a set of granite steps that led below ground. A series of pained exclamations echoed out from the mouth of the staircase as his tailbone was pummeled without mercy.

Mario managed to stop himself before skidding onto the staircase. He stared at the set of steps, and a bell of recognition went off in his head.

"Hey, I know this place! This is Takanyar's old hideout, the one he used back when he stole the Staff of Dreams from the museum! It's deserted now, though. This is just what we've been wanting!"

Amethyst cautiously descended the slope on foot, grasping branches and tree trunks to keep from sliding down. At last she reached bottom and helped Mario up, and they slowly moved down the stairs into the empty underground lair, leaving the wind and rain behind them.

"No...no..." Peach sobbed into her pillow as she lay on the cot in the holding room. "My poor castle workers...killed by my own sister!" She clutched her pillow tightly. "It's too much! I can't stand anymore of her cruelty!"

A voice filtered into her thoughts. "Princess..."

Peach sniffled. "Wh-Who's there?"

"Over here, Princess."

She sat up, wiped her eyes, and looked around for the voice's owner. There was the little kitchen area, complete with ceramic sink and mini-refrigerator; the small wooden table and two matching chairs against the far wall; the hateful steel door to her right that kept her prisoner; the bare white walls all around her; the fluorescent lamps in the plaster ceiling whose light illuminated the short red carpet. But no one else was in the room.

"Cyanara's just playing tricks on me again," Peach sighed, the tears rolling down her cheeks. "For some reason she enjoys tormenting me." She lay back down and tried to sleep. It was getting rather late.

"Princess Peach..."

Slowly Peach sat back up, somewhat nervous. She sensed what could only be described as a presence, as if someone were watching her. She shivered. "Wh-Who is it?"

There was a whispering sound, and a ghostly figure floated right through the closed steel door and into Peach's room. The Princess opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out. Almost paralyzed with fright, she shrank back against the wall as she sat on her cot, staring at the apparition.

Suddenly, as Peach stared at the transparent being, all fear left her. Her eyes took in the ghost's appearance. He looked old, with graying beard and long gray hair, and wore a flowing white robe with delicately embroidered patterns on hem and cuffs. On his head was a shimmering tiara made of yellow crystal, and in his hands was a long staff of the same material. The Princess's mouth fell open as she recognized her visitor.

"Is that you, Marlon?!"

"It is I, Princess." The elderly Star Sage fingered his staff.

Peach still stared at him. "B-But you're dead!"

"My body is dead, Princess. It is my spirit that speaks to you." Marlon gazed at Peach with sadness in his deep brown eyes. "I am come to warn you. Listen." He raised his staff. Immediately Peach heard two voices in the room, so clear they sounded as if the speakers were right next to her.

"Zaron! I summon you!"

Peach's eyes widened as she recognized Cyanara's voice. Then came a rasping response:

"I am here, O Great One."

"That's Zaron!" Peach whispered, frightened.

Cyanara's voice again echoed inside the holding room. "I have an assignment for you, Zaron."

"Name it, Master," Zaron rasped in reply.

"First, take this. It's a special hand-held teleportation device Sir Grodus developed for me. It will allow you to travel to any of the eight Mushroom Kingdom dimensions. But to use it, you'll need this."

Zaron gasped. "M-Master? The—Rainbow Ring?"

"The first Ring, the Jasper Ring. Take it. When placed in the device, it will open a portal to Red Dimension, the first of the kingdom dimensions, which encompasses Toadwood Forest and surrounding areas."

"And what is it you desire that I should do with these gifts, Great One?"

Cyanara's voice became low and vengeful. "Mario and Luigi are in that forest. Grodus's sensors have picked them up. They're waiting out a storm inside Takanyar's old hiding place."

If Peach could have seen Zaron's wicked smile as he heard this information, she would have been even more terrified.

"I understand, Master," Zaron replied eagerly.

"The Jasper Ring's power will aid you should you need it. Use it well. And Zaron—" Cyanara's voice became impatient. "Bring him back alive."

"Yes, Master."

Marlon lowered his staff, and the voices were silenced.

Peach shuddered. "Not Zaron! Oh, Mario!"

"Yes, Princess," Marlon said solemnly. "If he does not withstand Zaron's attack—"

"Don't say that!" Peach quickly interjected. "Please, don't!" She shut her eyes and forced herself to calm down. "Is there any way you can warn him?" she asked hopefully.

"If there were, I would have gone to him instead of you, Princess," Marlon replied. "Alas, Zaron's curse remains in place on me and my brethren, so that we cannot go to Mario's aid." He sighed. "My strength fades rapidly, and soon I must return to whence I came."

"Can you send someone to him, then?" Peach begged. "Please!"

"I can. I will send for him." Again Marlon raised his staff, and a small Star Kid with a cheery expression on his face materialized in front of Peach. She recognized him instantly.

"Twink!"

The little Star Kid smiled brightly. "Hi, Princess!"

"Farewell, Princess. My strength is spent. Perhaps I will see you again, perhaps not. Fate will decide." Marlon raised his hand in goodbye as he slowly vanished from sight.

"Twink, do you know what my sister did to my kingdom?" asked Peach anxiously.

Twink nodded vigorously. "Marlon told me everything!"

"Can you get to Mario?"

"I sure can!"

Peach breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness! Tell him Zaron's coming after him. He's using a special device that lets him teleport between dimensions. Tell Mario he's not safe! Oh, and Twink?"

"Yes, Princess Peach?" asked Twink expectantly.

"Tell Mario I'm OK."

"I sure will!" Twink made a loop in mid-air. "I'm on my way!" The little Star Kid sped through the bars on Peach's door and out of sight. Peach turned out the light and lay down on her cot again. Soon she was fast asleep.

"Zzzzzz...zzzzzz..."

"Mario, wake up! Wake up!"

Mario groaned, mumbled something about a plate of spaghetti, and rolled over on the stone floor. His snoring resumed.

"Come on, Mario! I have to tell you something!""

"Huh? What?" Mario sat bolt upright. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Twink!" Twink exclaimed.

"Twink?" Mario's face broke into a smile. "Boy, it's been a while since I last saw you!"

"Mario, listen! Cyanara's sending a creepy guy named Zaron to—"

"Did I just hear my name?" came a raspy voice from around the corner of the underground room.

Twink blanched. "Oops, too late..."

Mario grabbed Luigi and shook him awake just before Zaron himself entered the room. "Well, well, I see the little pest named Twink got here first. Not that it really matters—" Zaron caught sight of the sleeping Amethyst across the room. "Aha! So this is where Amethyst disappeared to! You pathetic plumbers had something to do with this, didn't you?" demanded the black-robed specter in his rasping voice.

"We found her out in the forest, soaking wet," Luigi stated simply. "We don't have a clue how she got there."

"Hmph, a likely story," Zaron sneered. "The Great One will greatly enjoy hearing you tell that to her face!"

"So Cyanara's still determined to get ahold of me, is she?" Mario asked stoutly.

Zaron bared his fangs at Mario. "I'm here for her sake—and for my own. I will never forget the thrashing you gave me years ago in Bowser's dungeons! I will have my revenge!"