Battle for Sarasaland

The slow-moving mother ship sweeps the bamboo forest with rapid laser fire. On a faraway hill, the four kings of Sarasaland watch the fiery destruction. Even though the emperor was captured, they had never given up. But now, never have they felt so helpless.

"Princess Daisy was the one holding everyone together. And now that fiend has her." Totomesu laments while Biokinton closes his eyes in response.

The stone head, Hiyoihoi, shakes his head. "Tatanga is heading straight for the last rebel hideout. Looks like Bowser didn't leave the spy behind. He's willing to die with her. What a fool…."

King Dragonzamasu grunts. "You based an accusation off a voice talking in your head. You're one to talk. Especially since Peach is not running away. A spy would not stay unless they have a death wish."

"Tatanga is probably going to pick her up."

One confused look from Dragonzamasu and Hiyoihoi hangs his head. "I know I was being rash, but it came true! And the survivors …"

"She could have been a spy and she could have been set up. I don't know…." Dragonzamasu reasons. "All I know is I don't want Daisy to lose a friend she just made." The sea horse shakes his head. "Who am I kidding. Not that anything matters now."

Totomesu groans and roars at his fellow royalty. "Are we just going to sit here and accept our fate!?"

As the kings debated what to do, a sky pop plane flew over their heads and landed. Ludwig jumps out of it and bows to the kings.

"A koopa!?"

"My name is Ludwig Von Koopa. Apologies, King Bowser is hot headed and prone to think with his emotions. But we need to work together. We're not your enemies. I need your help with a risky matter. Time is of the essence."

Throughout Bowser's base, koopas and humans prepare for the final battle. Noncombatants were evacuating in groups to meet up with Ludwig, who had already left. Wandering around, Peach is unsure of what what will happen. A koopa pauses and raises his fist in her direction.

"Chin up, Your Highness! You are the future bride of Lord Bowser. Don't let them see you hanging your head!"

Peach smiles weakly. She's not in the mood to fake being upbeat. Yet, her heart is jumpy over his bride comment. Koopas hate to let their enemies see any weakness. So, the man is only trying to encourage her so Peach quietly thanks him.

Peach decides to seek Bowser but finds Wario. He was munching on grilled steak while he and Hen sat on a bench.

"Wario?"

"This may be my last meal, toots. I will be with you guys in a moment."

Nodding with understanding, Peach continues her search. As she rounds a corner, she runs into Mouser. The boxes he was carrying flew out of his arms. While apologizing Peach helps him recollect his things.

"It's okay, princess. Everyone is on edge."

Peach bites her bottom lip reflecting on what he said. Bowser gave everyone a rousing speech, but Peach saw the fear in his eyes. Tatanga has the advantage of a larger weapon. If they fail in this battle, all of them will die and Tatanga will take over Sarasaland.

"Mouser, did you see where Bowser went?"

Mouser points to the right. "Head that way. He is acting as a witness at a wedding ceremony."

"Wedding ceremony?"

Mop is overseeing the marriage of a human couple. The bride and groom were dress simply and embracing each other. The only guests present were Bowser and another human acting as witnesses. It's subtle but Peach can tell Bowser is a little jealous of the couple. Peach flushes realizing she is on his mind. Once the vows are made, the bride and groom kiss. Grumbling, Bowser adds his signature to the marriage certificate and takes his leave. He becomes self-conscious noticing Peach.

"Mr. Mop can marry people?" She asks.

"He was a judge before the invasion. As for the couple they met in the prison. The bride is among the noncombatants set to leave." Bowser rolls his eyes. "So, the happy couple wanted to exchange vows just in case."

"That's so romantic!" Peach remarks earning an annoyed smile from Bowser. He would rather attend his own wedding with Peach. He visualizes them in place of the couple and laughs.

"If I asked now, would you elope with me?" He inquiries.

Clasping her hands together, Peach lowers her eyes. She would prefer a small wedding with close friends. Peach blushes realizing she is thinking of marriage. "I …don't know."

Bowser's shoulders droop at her hesitate response. "I wanted a large wedding ceremony anyway…"

Peach continues to look down at her feet. "I was here to talk to you. You know, with everything happening…I wanted to be honest with you."

"Uh?"

"About my dreams. A-Antasma warned me you were invading Mushroom Kingdom. That you were coming to …. kill us." Bowser flinches but Peach continues. "And that you convinced Mayor Goomba to betray us."

Bowser is dreading where she is going with this. Is she going to reject him?

She just confessed earlier, Bowser! Just listen!

But her sad eyes catches his attention. Now he feels shame over his earlier actions … again.

"He looked out for me and the toads. And Antasma encouraged me to befriend you. He said you needed a friend. One day he … showed me your thoughts."

Bowser's expression is now one of hurt and embarrassment. "That was between me and him."

Peach rubs her arm. "I know and I'm sorry."

Bowser looks around, embarrassed Peach saw his nightmares personally. Then he feels shame when he sees Peach step back. And the shame gives way to rage. Not at Peach but at Antasma for taking advantage of her.

Bowser's eyes light up. "No. My actions brought you in contact with Antasma. He was never a threat to me, so I never considered he would be so underhanded. Hanging around you while using Captain Toad. I should have dealt with him permanently."

Bowser reaches for her hand and wraps his claw around it.

"You were curious about me?" He whispers.

"At first, I just wanted to protect my toads. But I saw the person you've hidden under the facade."

Smiling, Bowser squeezes her hand. This is going to hard on his pride, but he needs to be open as well. "Then I need to be honest with you. When I first saw you, I was infatuated. However, I fell in love after you saved my life. I was looking for a place to die and you made me happy. But because of our differences, I had … given up and wanted to kill you." Bowser looks away ashamed. "I'm glad you talked me out of it. I find it unthinkable to hurt you."

Peach looks up at him through half-lidded eyes. A small smile tugs at her lips. Bowser feels his heart racing and struggles to think of more to say. He stares into her gentle blue eyes with his intense red ones.

"There is a .00000001% chance we die today." Peach eyes him skeptically. She believes the risk is higher, but Bowser sticks to his estimates. "If we fall in that percentage, I want you to know that I have so many plans for us. And I would not mind our 25 brats being human. I would love them as if they were koopas."

Peach's smile vanishes and she turns beet red. "And w-where do you intend to get that many children, Bowser Koopa!? And are you going to help care for them!?"

Bowser pokes his bottom lip out, pouting. "I raised the koopalings! And I enjoyed it! Big families are common among koopas."

"I'm not having that many!"

"Aww, come on Peach! W-wait …. does that mean you will marry me!?"

Peach turns, trying to hide her blushing face from an eager Bowser. Unknown to the two, Mouser was listening in. Abruptly, an explosion rips through the dome. Bowser glares as UFOs enter and grins nervously.

"They're here, you idiots! It's showtime!"

Daisy glares down at her hands encased in metal restraints. She is surrounded by a group of aliens operating mecha suits. Daisy feels tempted to escape as she is being escorted down the halls. But she has two reasons for surrendering to Tatanga. The first reason is they have her mother and father. The second is that Toad is likely on the ship. When Bowser launches his attack, she must get the little guy out of here.

As the group nears the control room, Daisy hears a violin playing. Her green eyes widen with curiosity, not familiar with the song being played. The melody is beautiful but there is a tinge of eeriness to it. She begins to feel dread but buries it, in the back of her mind, as the doors slide open.

The control room is in a large circular area, aliens are operating on various stations. At the center is a large chair facing a wide monitor. Multiple images of Chai's burning forests flash on the monitor. Daisy spots her parents, Oleander and Lilac in a corner. Their hands are bound with rope, and they are leaning against each other for comfort. Her mother's eyes were red from crying. Daisy angrily looks around for Tatanga. But the only people nearby is a tall bat, playing the violin, and a small man.

The bat looks up from his violin and glares murderously at the princess. Daisy hardens her stare, not familiar with this character. The short man's eyes turn to big black saucers. Daisy returns the same wide eye look.

Is that Toad? He's adorable…

Her parents finally looked up and realized their daughter was here.

"Dayz!"

Daisy feels like a child again and rushes towards them.

"Pa! I'm so sorry! I failed!" She cries.

"I'm the one that failed to repel the enemy." The king says while shaking his head. "You did well, Daisy. It must have been so hard on you and your mother!"

Daisy looks up at her father and smiles, though there are tears streaming down her face.

"Such a happy little family reunion." The large chair facing the monitor turns around, revealing Tatanga. Daisy grinds her teeth. "What's that look for, dear? I tried to spare you the sight of seeing your fellow rebels buried under rubble. But my pet failed to bring you in through the warp pipe I installed in the ravine."

"Enough with the pleasantries! How did you know where the base was?" Daisy shouts.

Tatanga grins at Daisy while tapping his fingers together. "Why Princess Peach led us right to you."

"Liar!" Daisy shouts.

Antasma goes back to playing his violin. "The rebels of Easton base says otherwise. A human appears out of nowhere with no connections. The doubt and fear was in their minds already. It just needed to come out."

Toad's eyes narrow. Lilac looks at him. "What is he talking about?"

Antasma continues. "She didn't run like I thought she would."

Daisy eyes him with suspicion again. "Tatanga, who is this?"

"King Antasma."

Daisy marches up to Antasma. "I overheard Peach mentioning that name! I'm not an idiot. You had something to do with this."

The bat stops playing and looks down at Daisy smiling. "You'll never see her again."

"You go after her and I'll …" The guards aim their guns at her parents.

Daisy stops and gnashes her teeth. Chuckling, Tatanga stands up from his chair and descends. "I don't trust going to sleep around him if I can. But he has been helpful."

As he walks up to Daisy, she keeps her chin held up high.

"Your continued defiance is unnecessary, Daisy. Your allies are about to meet a swift end. No doubt they are panicking. And we know of Bowser's hidden base. All they will be able to do is quake."

An alien at a small monitor, spins in her chair to face Tatanga. "Lord Tatanga, one of our ships are trying to communicate with us. It's urgent."

"Well, put it on screen."

The large monitor blinks out the sight of the bamboo forest. Bowser comes into view standing inside a UFO. Daisy gasps and Tatanga balls his fists up.

"How dare you! You buffoon of a king! Where are my men?"

"Sleeping. So, you're ready for round two, Tangy?"

Tatanga bristles at the nickname. "It will end just like the first. I will raze everything you hold dear to the ground."

"Bring it."

Bowser turns his screen off. Daisy smirks and Tatanga's neck muscles strain.

"That koopa doesn't know when to quit."

"Ummm…Lord Tatanga."

The monitor switches to a view of a sky full of planes. Led by a singular UFO.

Tatanga scoffs. "When will they learn? Launch the EMP cannon!"

Waluigi stares ahead at the imposing mother ship.

"Are we supposed to shoot that thing down!?"

"No, flagpole! That's Ludwig's job. Our mission is to save the Sarasaland royalty."

"What did I do in life to end up on a suicide mission?"

Wario pilots his plane near him. Hen is sitting in his lap. "It beats fixing toilets."

"But Wario, this just keeps escalating! I have a bad feeling about this! I just want to go home!"

"Wa ha ha! Well, I'm enjoying myself! Maybe we'll find a treasure room on that behemoth." Wario laughs while Waluigi protests under his breath.

The two listen to Bowser over the communications, as the mother ship is deploying the cannon. "Get ready, mustaches! Let's see if you stay in the air!"

Waluigi yells, "Bad time to be testing this! It's awfully suspicious that you and your woman are not flying these!"

"Bowser can't fit." Wario snickers.

Bowser growls at his teasing. "I can fit my muscular body wherever I please! But I wouldn't want Peach in that plane if the engine fails!"

Waluigi hears a shocked Peach scolding Bowser and he shakes his head. "Unbelievable! Peach smack him for me!"

A massive electric ball fires from the cannon. It explodes midair and a wave sweeps over the planes. Waluigi covers his eyes, expecting the plane to short out and nosedive. He intended to yell insults at Bowser all the way down. But nothing happens.

He hears Peach's voice. "Waluigi! Are you still there?"

He reopens his eyes. Wario is laughing again.

"Yeah…Wario, are you ….?"

"We're still kicking! Wa ha ha!"

Bowser smiles and folds his arms while hearing the other pilots cheer. "Don't celebrate too much! We're just getting started!"

Tatanga stands stunned as the fleet remains in the air.

"Fire again!"

"Sir, we have to save energy for the…"

"Fire!"

They fire again and the planes remain in the air. Finally, one of the staff speaks.

"Sir, they know of the coating!"

"I can see that! Who leaked the information!?" Tatanga turns to Antasma and shoves a finger at his face. Antasma leans back frowning at the proximity. He feels tempted to bite it off. "Did you know they had this?"

Antasma innocently shakes his head. Tatanga lifts his arm and presses a button on his wrist communicator. "Scramble my ships from the hangar. All of them!"

As he gives orders, Daisy prepares to hit him with her cuffs. But Antasma pulls out a laser gun, from under his cape, and shoots at Daisy's head. She realizes what is happening and pulls up her cuffs, narrowly blocking the shot. Antasma hisses in annoyance.

"Daisy!" Oleander cries out as Tatanga furiously turns around.

"I need her in one piece! Why are you…"

Antasma fires at Tatanga who dodges. The alien ducks behind a monitor and returns fire with his men. Antasma is forced to hide behind a computer station. Daisy shoves her parents to safety as Antasma pick off soldiers not hiding. Taking advantage of the chaos, Toad steals a key from a soldier's pocket. He is nearly shot but Daisy gently punts him to where her parents are hiding. Again, Daisy raises her cuffs to block and dives to join the others. Toad shows her the key and begins to unlock her cuffs.

"Toad!"

"How do you know my name?" Toad nervously asks while freeing her.

Daisy smiles and Toad lightens up. "Peach. She's on her way to get you. You gotta go home, buddy."

But Toad shakes his head and looks around. "She can't come on this ship!"

Having no time to talk anymore, Daisy rolls under fire to grab a gun and aims in Antasma's direction. Antasma breaks down into his mist form, only his eyes and claws visible. He rips through a mecha and makes a run for the exit.

Control yourself, Antasma. We'll kill her later. I'm losing time!

"No! He can't get away!" Toad shouts.

"I know that!" Tatanga keeps firing and pursuing. He realizes Daisy is chasing him. Tatanga knows he will lose to her but only if he fails to reach his Pagosu. "And this isn't over, princess!"

Daisy stops and turns to Toad and her parents. "You guys find a ship! I'll take care of Tatanga!"

Toad sighs. "Okay…"

Unaware of what's happening at the control center, the UFOs are deployed. They engage in an ariel battle with the sky pops. Using the stolen vessel, Bowser speeds past the battle for the mother ship. As he pilots Peach is shooting down any enemies in his way. Wario, Waluigi, and Mouser act an escort.

Suddenly, a flying disk gets behind Mouser's plane. "Not again!"

Wario spins his plane and shooting multiple missiles at it. Damaged, it breaks off pursuing Mouser. Wario gives him a thumbs up as he flies past. As they get closer the mother ship deploys a wide laser field around it, emitting from turrets on its surface. Some of the planes are unfortunately downed. To avoid the field, the team is forced to bob and weave. Peach looks at the planes being shot down and angrily aims at the turrets. The plumbers assist her in destroying the others. They can't destroy them all but enough to give their comrades a fighting chance.

Successfully landing on the haul of the mother ship, Bowser and Wario work together to rip a turret off its foundation.

"This was made to last!" Wario grunts. "I wonder if these guys were formerly part of a military force."

Waluigi and Peach jump down first, landing in a hallway surprising the soldiers. Peach's eyes narrow and she shouts at them.

"Where's Daisy and my Toad!?"

When they don't answer they rush at the enemy. Using a tennis racket, Waluigi spins around smacking his opponents. Peach angerly leaps around, whacking any within her reach with her parasol. She is not happy with these folks and wants to make that clear. Dropping down, Bowser is content to watch Peach and Waluigi fight. But when the mechas enter Bowser and Wario get in front. "We'll take it from here."

Meanwhile, Toad and the royal couple have found the hangar. It was still open with a few UFOs left over. Toad enters one to ensure no one is in there. Once it's safe he beckons for the couple to enter.

"Get out of here as far as possible. Hopefully, Bowser's fleet won't mistake you for an enemy!" Toad says. He runs down the ramp.

"Where are you going?"

"I gotta find Antasma. But you guys must leave! Your kingdoms needs you!"

The king nodded and had to convince his wife to get on.

Tatanga is still trying to outrun Daisy. He must shoot behind himself to keep her at bay. He also keeps his eyes out for Antasma. It is clear the bat has an agenda of his own. That man is one that cannot wander freely. His wrist communicator buzzes and he answers it with a growl.

"What!"

"They're inside!"

"How!?"

"They tore through the haul!"

"Get the shields up! Why are they not up!?"

"We must recharge after we use the cannon and the laser field. We're not working with unlimited resources here!" The caller said in an annoyed voice.

Tatanga's eyes are becoming bloodshot. "Who are the invaders?"

"There is a rampaging turtle! A mouse with a gun! A crazy lady with a parasol. And two plumbers carrying a chicken!"

Tatanga stops and balls his fists up. He is now in the core room. Behind him is a large glowing ball encased in glass and metal.

"I'm being undone. By a bunch of misfits. Again!" Tatanga presses his wristwatch. The metal floor in front of him splits apart. "No, I won't lose this war!"

Daisy enters the room and readies her fists. By now the Pagosu has risen out of the floor. Tatanga jumps into it.

"You should have cooperated earlier, my dear. Now die!"

Meanwhile, Bowser's team rushes through the halls, passing through open blast doors. Bowser stops and pulls out a communication device to contact Mop. "We're inside. Keep them busy."

"Roger that!"

Bowser's nostrils catch a scent and he looks around. Peach, leading the group, turns back realizing Bowser and Mouser are lagging.

"Bowser?"

"I'm on my way, honey." He had heard an familiar swoosh too. Bowser and Mouser cautiously investigate. As they do, Peach feels uncomfortable.

"Bowser!"

"Peach come over here to me …" Suddenly, a blast door is activated separating Bowser and Mouser from the group. Peach runs up to the door.

"Bowser! Break the door down!" Peach pleads.

She jumps back hearing a loud bang from the other side. "I'm working on it!"

"You big oaf why did you lag behind!?"

The banging pauses. "Hey, I'm your big oaf. So that makes you one by association!"

"How does that work!?"

Bowser smiles hearing Peach grumble on the other side. He winds up his arm for another punch. "Don't worry, we'll have this door down in a minute."

The floor rumbles under them and then explodes! Bowser and Mouser plummet into the dark below.

"Peach! I'll catch up. Stay with the others!" Bowser shouts out hoping she can hear him. Panic races through his mind. Someone intentionally separated him from the group. He is certain it is that bat. Bowser is forced to assure himself Peach will stay alive until he finds her. "Mouser this is all your fault!"

"How is it my fault!?"

With reluctance, Peach's crew go to locate Daisy. But they stumble across a large lab instead. Strewed across the ground are fallen aliens. Color drains from Peach's face. Waluigi curiously walks up to one and checks his pulse. "Who did this?"

Peach cries out. At the center is Captain Toad, lying face down near a control panel. He is still clutching a weapon and weakly lifts his head. He's alive.

"P-Peach? Run! Find Bowser!"

"There you are, Peach. I was just in this room. I already got what I came for in here." Antasma floats in behind them. Peach jumps away from him. He stares at her for a moment, one of his eyes twitching. "I've missed you. But I assume the koopas convinced you I'm an enemy."

"Were you blackmailing Toad?"

Antasma shrugs. "Didn't you want to be free of Bowser?"

"He murders for sport, Peach! Don't listen to him!" Toad cries out.

Waluigi and Wario's eyes bug out and they begin sliding out the door. Peach remains.

I'm not leaving without Toad.

"I would never approve of what you've done!"

"We could have ruled together."

"Huh?"

Antasma circles the room while holding a box, his eyes locked on Peach.

"What is that?" She asks.

"Tatanga's height and strength is not natural. I wanted to know how he underwent such a look. And I have the serum." Antasma aims his gun at Toad to finish him. "I will be taking it and you too, Peach."

Peach dives for Toad, covering him with her own body. Antasma pauses to aim for her leg. But Peach shoots Antasma in the face with her own laser. He holds the left side of his face, snarling at her furiously. Wario charges at him elbow first, sending him crashing into a wall. Shaking off the pain, Antasma aims one of his bony arms at his opponents. Wario's back 'cushioning' protects him from a debilitating blow. Waluigi is nearly impaled but he maneuvers his thin body in between the strikes. Still holding his face, Antasma shrieks in rage. He breaks down into mist, as he angrily drags Peach by the ankle, causing her to drop the gun and the parasol. She grabs at the doorframe trying to save herself. Peach stares fearfully at Toad. Waluigi leaps and grasps her hand, but he's unable to hold on.

"Peach!"

Defeated, Waluigi runs back to help Wario up. "Can you move?"

"I think I can…Man that sparks!"

Toad weakly stands up. "We gotta save her!"

Bowser sat up rubbing his head and examining his surroundings. He realizes he and Mouser are in an ammunitions room. He had narrowly missed landing on a missile. "That would have hurt."

"Boss!" Mouser cries out as he presses his ear against the wall. "I hear a battle going on this way."

Hoping it's Peach, Bowser punches through several walls following Mouser's ears. They reach a strange hall and Bowser catches Daisy's scent. The metal on the other side is different. Bowser punches it and recoils in pain. "I don't think I'm getting through this quickly."

"Don't worry, Your Evilness! There's a door over there."

"Oh."

As they open it, they hear Tatanga laughing madly. Daisy is lying on the ground, injured. She tries to get back on her feet. Bowser spots Tatanga in the Pagosu and snarls.

"You need a whole ship to battle her!?"

"I won't stand for your mockery! And how did you get here!?" Tatanga demands. He presses a button and a shutter (made of the same material as the core room's walls) blocks the door.

"Uh oh." Mouser utters.

The Pagosu fires a missile and it splits into several smaller ones. Bowser shields Daisy with his shell.

"Boss! I've just realized, we're in the core room!"

"Well, our job just got easier." Bowser says while in pain.

"Bowser, take out his ship for me!" Daisy asks as she catches her breath. He nods and rushes forward.

Tatanga fires a storm of missiles. Bowser moves to duck or shield. Mouser takes advantage of the chaos to sneak towards Daisy.

"Toss me over the battle."

Daisy lifts and hurls him towards the core controls, Mouser screams the whole way over. Bowser leaps at the Pagosu and gets a missile to the stomach. A pained yell escapes his mouth and he crashes on the ground.

"Bowser!"

Tatanga gets another call as he aims for the Koopa King. It is one of his staff. "The rebels are fleeing, sir."

Bowser holds his stomach.

"Ha ha ha! Pursue them to the ends of Sarasaland! You hear that Bowser; your efforts are for naught."

"You know nothing!" Bowser gets back up and roars at Tatanga. He charges the ship, powering through another missile hitting him. Despite his injuries he is in berserk mode. Bowser jumps on one of the missile launchers and rips into it with his fire. It explodes and the Pagosu becomes unsteady. He aims for the other launcher, and the Pagosu crashes through the dome holding the core. Tatanga leaps to safety before the crash. Once it touches the core, the ammunition in the Pagosu explodes. As Tatanga gets up Daisy rushes him. The two engage in a wrestling match. But Daisy succeeds in lifting him into the air and slamming him on the ground.

Bowser notices the Pagosu has damaged the core, causing it to pulse. "Great…" He collapses on the ground as Daisy runs over to Mouser. He stares at the controls in confusion.

"Mouser?"

"I have no idea how to shut this down."

Bowser looks in Tatanga's direction. The alien utters a spiteful line into his communicator. "Shields up."

Another of his staff contacts him. "Sir? We're getting bad readings from the core…We can't…"

"Tatanga. Override."

The lights flicker and room shakes. Bowser grabs Daisy and Mouser. He was not going to wait. He punches at the shutter. It won't budge.

"Don't waste your energy! I installed three large floating towers on this ship. At my command they will draw energy from the core and separate from the mother ship. As I speak, they are creating a death shield - trapping anyone left in the ship."

Bowser backtracks and grabs him. "Then shut it down."

"Once activated, the shields will remain until the core engulfs the ship. You will all die here!" Tatanga mocks. Bowser drops him in disgust; he returns to hitting the shutter.

Daisy joins him and they manage to get through. As they run away the core slowly enlarges. Sitting on the floor, Tatanga doesn't bother moving. The core engulfs him, instantly incinerating him.

Meanwhile, in the control room the staff members panic. They are unable to contact Tatanga. "The core is unstable!"

"We need to get out of here before it blows."

"But the shields are up and I can't override it! The core will kill us before the shields drop."

Everyone in the control room went silent. "Tatanga is taking us with him."

Antasma finally stops dragging Peach and let go. She yelps holding her ankle. She looks up at him fearfully. He smiles.

"I thought you were my friend." She pleads.

Antasma's right eye lights up. "Then apologize."

"W-why?"

Antasma looks at her bewildered and spreads his arms. "For ignoring my advice! I warned you not to fall in love with Bowser. And this is how you treat me."

Peach stares at him in confusion. Antasma bends and embraces her with one arm and runs another claw along her neck. Peach attempts to pull away.

"Peach. Don't you get it. I want you. I want you to be with me when I take over Bowser's empire."

Peach shakes. "I never thought of you like that! And I won't help with your plans. I want everyone live peacefully together."

Antasma's eye slits.

"Peach!"

She hears Wario, Waluigi, and Toad coming to her rescue. Toad is leading the charge. Wario is using Peach's parasol as a cane to support himself.

"Last chance. Come with me. We can still overthrow the koopas." Antasma presses.

Peach tearfully shouts, "Never!"

Antasma frowns at her defiant glare. A purple haze forms around him and he releases her. He prefers it when she's afraid….

"Then die." He spits bitterly.

Antasma turns into a fleet of bats and leaves the room. The guys enter as Peach warns them to stay away. Antasma reappears and shuts a shutter behind them locking them in. As he does, he relishes the fear flashing on Peach's eyes as she realizes what he is doing. He intends to commit her beautiful expression to memory. He calls out to her, longingly as he departs. "I'm going to miss you."

Wario tosses Hen to Waluigi and bangs on the doors. He must pull back and nurse his hands. "What is this made of!?"

Toad hugs Peach while crying. "Peach, I'm so sorry! I knew he would do this! I tried to stop him!"

Peach cups his face in her hands. "We're together again! That's what matters!"

Waluigi smells the air. "Does it smell like somethings burning?"

The walls behind them begin to melt. Peach hugs Toad close and Wario punches at the shutter harder. "We must be near the core!" Toad says.

"Bowser will find us." Peach assures him.

"He doesn't know we're here!" Waluigi frowns and holds his head. "If I knew I was gonna die as an extra in a cheap soap opera, I would have paid the $150 dollars and hid under my covers."

Wario turns around. "Waluigi, you'll make Peach cry. It's not her fault her ex is a nutjob."

Peach buries her face in Toad's cap. "He's not...Waluigi is right. I'm sorry you were dragged into this."

Wario continues punching at the shutter. The melting floor closes in on them and they press against the opposite wall. Suddenly, the shutters are ripped out immediately.

"Peach!" Bowser shouts and embraces her.

"You're here." She happily replies. Toad is smooshed between the two. Daisy bends to look at Peach. "Daisy…"

Daisy gives her the usual sunny smile. "Glad to see you again, Peachy!"

The team made a run for the hanger. Using advice from Toad, who spent too much time on the ship, they punch through walls to get there quicker. Bowser is upset over Peach limping on her ankle, but he must focus on getting her out here. He'll find out later what happened. They finally make it to the hangar only to see a force field blocking the exit. Bowser hurls a UFO at it and it burns up. He throws himself at it and is met with white hot pain. Bowser falls back growling with fury. His injuries from battling the Pagosu are catching up with him. Undeterred, he aims to try again. Peach cries out for him to stop; Daisy and Wario must grab his arms to pull him back.

"You're going to kill yourself!"

Bowser begins to panic. The core is slowly melting the inner rooms of the mother ship, as it expands. Soon it will reach the hanger. Bowser pulls out his communicator and tries to speak calmly. "Ludwig, we're trapped. The shield is not dropping."

"What?"

"Tatanga's doing. The core is expanding and melting everything. The shield may contain the blast but we're goners."

Ludwig goes silent for a moment on the other side. "Try to avoid it! Don't die!"

Bowser rolls his eyes. "Of course, we're … I … We'll figure something out. You stay where you are! I-I love you, okay?"

"Don't get all sentimental on me, now! Provide me some time, King Dad. I won't allow you to die!"

Bowser turns off his communicator. He faces the group. "Where is Lilac?"

Toad speaks up. "Queen Lilac and King Oleander already left." Daisy holds her heart in relief.

"I count this as a win. We stopped Tatanga." Daisy turns to her friends. "Thanks guys! M-My world will finally be free!"

Everyone solemnly smiles at her. Peach nervously looks around waiting for the room to melt. Defiant, Bowser stares at the force field hoping to find a way to escape.

It can't end this way! Junior needs me!

He notices Peach holding Toad's hand while sniffling. Wanting to comfort her, Bowser wraps an arm around her. Mouser rubs the back of his neck and looks up at the koopa.

"Ludwig may not save us in time, My King."

"I know Mouser." Bowser murmurs under his breath.

"So, would you and the Princess like to elope?"

Bowser and Peach both look down at Mouser. "What?"