2005 September 18th

Mushroom Kingdom, Peach's Castle

It's noisy in the morning.

The atmosphere is peaceful and relaxing, yet noisy as the construction workers are shaping different buildings in different shapes and sizes, giving the kingdom more life.

At the table inside a damaged and messy castle, Princess Peach, Cranky Kong, the toad workers and the Kongs are planning on a new style for the Mushroom Kingdom to flourish.

"Hmm… It's going to take a lot of work doing all this. The issue is how are we going to get more resources if we run out?" Mayor Fettuccine asked, worried that the resources are not enough to make a newer kingdom.

"We can warp our way to the outside world and ask the humans for more resources." Toadshou suggested.

"Impossible, with the warp pipes no longer accessible, we need to think of a way to obtain some from a third party." Said Peach, thinking about what to do after the fiasco nearly a week ago.

"Maybe the Sarasaland Empire got some stuff you need. Maybe you can ask them for some extra resources." Cranky Kong points out, giving Peach some thought about going over there.

"If that's the case, then our option is to go over to the empire." Joleyne said as she's noting down the resources needed.

"Hm… If I go there, then I'll take Mario and Luigi with me. They're in need of learning other kingdoms." Peach is moving the papers while trying to get the idea into fruition.

"Well, princess, you also need to learn other kingdoms' cultures." Toadsworth said while handing Peach tea.

"Toadsworth?" Peach is surprised that Toadsworth is letting her go for the first time.

"You're a grown woman. The decision is yours to make. I must make my own amends." Raising his head proudly, Toadsworth is finally giving Peach the freedom she longed for a long time ago.

"Toadsworth… Thank you." Peach sighs and then looks at Cranky Kong on the phone.

"Mario and Luigi? Oh? Why do you need them? Hmm… Let me get them. I'm sure they'll be there. See you." Cranky Kong hangs up and turns towards Peach. "It's Princess Daisy from Sarasaland."

"Daisy? That's amazing! She's able to contact you guys!" Peach rejoices as Daisy is still available.

"But it's about the Mario brothers. She needs them for a job." Cranky Kong explained.

"Really? Let me go with them."

"Well, old Toadsworth did let you out for now, so you're free to do whatever you want, Princess Peach." Cranky Kong bows.

Peach bows back and then walks towards the exit of her castle, giving the council and the Kongs some time without Peach's involvement.

"If there's another way to repel Bowser from us…" Wrinkly Kong murmurs out of worry.

"Fret not, everyone. With the Mario brothers on our side, we'll be able to persuade other kingdoms and stop this tyrant once and for all." Cranky Kong is positive that Mario and Luigi are doing the very best to save the world together.

Outside, Mario and Luigi are sending each other's numbers from their new phones that Cranky Kong gave them as the latest models, giving the brothers a chance to have better contact and play their games on it as well.

With the brothers laughing, they're then given a bunch of wood that is for building, leading Mario and Luigi to march with it and avoid hitting the toads and the Kongs.

After piling the wood on the side of the castle, a phone rings as Luigi pulls it out with surprise.

"That's a first." Luigi commented as his number was being called a few hours after being given a phone. "Hello? This is Luigi."

[Luigi? Is that you!?] A familiar voice calls, alerting Mario and Luigi to the point that they're closer to the phone.

"Mama!?"

[Luigi! Is Mario with you!?] Mario's mother asked desperately.

With Luigi turning on the speaker, Mario replies with "Mama, it's us! Mario and Luigi!"

[Mario! Thank goodness! What's going on!? Where are you two!? I called the cops after you went missing for four days!] Mario's mother exclaimed.

"Calm down, mama. We're fine. We're… In a very unique place." Mario points out while scratching his head.

[Unique? Also what happened to Pauline?]

This stops Mario and Luigi after remembering what happened to Pauline earlier, leading the duo to gulp.

Bowser's magic had taken her away.

[Boys?]

"S- She's okay! Yeah! Pauline's just sick, so we took her to bed!" Luigi lied.

"Yeah! She's asleep right now!" Mario laughed nervously as well as his little brother.

[Really now… It's just that… I'm scared that I couldn't get any sleep. My babies…]

"Mama…" Luigi grunts as Mario pats Luigi's shoulder out of guilt.

Now the brothers are left with their mother weeping for them.

If they told the truth, then no one would believe them.

[So, when will you come back?]

"We can't… Not quite yet." Mario admitted as he scrunched his lips, avoiding the truth from his mother.

[Huh? What do you mean?]

"If we tell you, then you wouldn't believe us."

[I believed in you. Remember how your father faced an ape to save my life. That's a surrealistic situation I went through, but I'm glad that this happened.]

"You're g- glad about dad!?" Luigi panics whereas Mario makes a low growl, thinking about his father.

[Oh, no no! I'm glad that you boys are born as well as Pauline being a part of the family.] Mario's mother admitted.

To the Mario bros, their mother is actually caring towards them, even after their disappearance for days, leading Luigi to nod to Mario, telling him to tell the truth.

"Okay. Mama, ever since you're asleep, we have to follow Peach to the sewers and Pauline is following us. What we see is the warp zone that's strangely magical and filled with colourful pipes, but the thing is… We're stuck in another world." Mario explained.

[Another world? You mean, you're no longer home because of the strange pipes?] Mario's mother gasped.

"Yeah. Right now, we're no longer able to go back home. So all that's left for me and Luigi is to spend the rest of our lives in that world." Mario admitted.

To the mother, she can see what the brothers are going through, knowing it's hard to believe such an unrealistic event happened.

Then she sighs.

"Mama?"

[Mario, Luigi, it's time that I have to tell you boys the truth. When I was a child, I was in the world you're standing in.]

"Wait! Really!?" Luigi exclaims as Mario gasps.

[Yes. Just like you, I discovered the pipes that lead to another world. At first, it was all just a dream and now everything I see is real. I remembered being friends with the princess and the boy she met. We used to get along, but it's been over 25 years since I remembered them.] Mario's mother explained.

"And that's when you meet Cranky Kong." Mario said.

[Cranky Kong? All I remember is Donkey Kong and he entered our world.] Mario's mother points out.

"Actually, that's Cranky Kong you're talking about. He knows our old man." Mario also points out.

[Really? Anyway, where are you now?] Mario's mother asked.

"We're in the Mushroom Kingdom."

[Mushroom Kingdom? I mean I know mushrooms, but a kingdom? Maybe I was a foreigner that's been living in Sarasaland.]

"Hold on, what's Sarasaland?" Mario asked.

[An empire that is known for cultivating other kingdoms and the kingdom I lived in is no exception. My friends and I are residents of this Mushroom Kingdom thing… My memory's all fuzzy thinking about that. Maybe I'm forgetful.] Mario's mother is struggling to think about the Mushroom Kingdom.

"Maybe you were." Luigi said while staying calm.

[Oh that's right! My friends and I were servants and maids of the kingdom before the old king's passing, making his spouse, which is my friend, the royal member of the kingdom. Sorry for the long and boring history.]

"No no, it's okay, mama. We didn't know you've been in this world like us." Luigi laughs, realising that his mother believed him and his big brother.

"So, now we're dealing with the koopa kingdom, we need some assistance." Mario clears his throat while telling his mother something.

[Well… How about going to Sarasaland. Also, take Peach with you.] Mario's mother suggested.

"Wait. You know Peach is a princess!?" Mario exclaimed.

[From what I can tell five days ago, she actually resembled my friends, who were actually the king and queen of a certain kingdom. So that means I met their daughter and mistaken her for a cosplayer.] Mario's mother sighs as nostalgia hits her.

Mario and Luigi sigh, thinking that their mother is worrying too much after their disappearance.

"Anyway, we're fine. Tell the cops that we're okay." Luigi said.

"Luigi, no one will believe her if she tells them where we are." Mario points out.

Luigi knows that his brother is right about that.

[It's okay. I'll let them know if they come to my house. I'm still worried about you two.] Mario's mother said.

"It's okay. We'll contact each other if anything happens." Mario said, smiling for his mother.

[Alright. Be careful, you two.] Mario's mother bids farewell for her sons to continue.

"Will do. Bye-bye." Luigi concludes and then hangs up.

Finally, the Mario bros sigh after their phone call with their mother, which is stressful.

"Finally…" Luigi pants.

"Yeah… It seems mama has more knowledge about this world than we do." Mario sighed while he picked out Luigi's medallion. "We mustn't forget about our answers."

"Yeah." Luigi agreed.

Before the bros stand up, a toad seamstress arrives with a bunch of clothing for the bros to wear.

"Mario! Luigi! I made a bunch of clothes for you that are colour coded. Since Mario's red, I made a t-shirt, a folded neck shirt and a hoodie that's used for coldness or you want to cover yourself. Luigi, yours is a green t-shirt, a folded neck shirt and a sweater, since you've been shivering earlier in your sleep. Your overalls are based on the size you guys wear and the design of your clothes and your caps are imperfectly replicated, so you won't have to wear the same thing for a while." A toad seamstress explained as she's handing the clothes over to Mario and Luigi.

The seamstress appears to have long blue hair as well as the polkadot on the Mushroom are blue.

"Also, your pyjamas are made. Mario's is black t-shirt with his red initials on, with white trousers, meaning you can sleep comfortably. Luigi, yours is a bunch of L prints on your pyjama buttoned top and trousers." The seamstress explains more and then bows. "Thank you for your patience."

"Ah! Not a problem! Thanks!" Mario laughs while waving, then he turns towards Luigi, who was analysing his clothes. "Heh. Looks like we're prepared."

"Yeah. Now we should see Peach." Luigi said.

"That's right." Peach arrives with a luggage bag and approaches Mario and Luigi. "Mario, Luigi. We're going to the Sarasaland Empire."

"I know. Mama told us about that place, but we didn't get any details, aside from the names and its cultivation." Mario points out while rubbing his head.

"Wait, your mother has been in this world too?" Peach gasped.

"Dunno."

"I know it's sudden, but… Do you know your parents?" Luigi asked.

Mario already knows since Peach told him 4 days ago.

"I never did. Why do you ask, Luigi?" Peach is curious to know why Luigi is asking.

"Well… It's because mama knows your parents." Luigi answered.

"Really!?"

Luigi nods, making Peach glad as she grabs both Mario and Luigi's hands.

"That's amazing! I know there's a connection between us!" Peach cheers.

"But… We have only known each other since elementary school." Luigi chuckles nervously.

"Aside from that, why are we going to Sarasaland?" Mario asks.

"Because 1: You have a job there. 2: My friend Daisy lives there. And 3: The Flower Nation is cultivated and I might have a chance to tell their prince to call off the old laws." Peach explained and then nodded to Mario and Luigi.

"Hey! Don't forget about me!" A familiar voice calls.

Arriving is Toad as he's carrying a bag with rolled up paper and appears in a different clothing that looks like an archaeologist, even though he has a light on his mushroom head.

"Toad?"

"That's right! For I am Toad, the adventurer that will accompany the princess and her boys! Relax, princess, we promised to stay by your side, remember." Toad nods which had Peach crouching down and patting his head.

"If that's the case, then you can come as well. I mean, four is better." Peach accepted Toad's offer.

"Okie dokie!" Mario and Luigi also accept needing some extra help.

"Really!? Awesome! Let's go!" Toad cheers while rushing headfirst, leading Mario, Luigi and Peach to follow, realising how fast Toad runs.

"Wait!" Peach shouted.

"Come on! We can ask Driver Kong to give us a lift!" Toad called.

"Why not our own karts!?" Luigi shouted.

"Because I want another bumpy ride!" Toad laughs.

"Geez! Are you trying to hurt yourself!?" Mario yelled.

With Toad laughing and the humans shouting, the new journey is about to start, meaning Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad are in for a new chapter to face.

Their next stop is the Sarasaland Empire.