Peach looked from the flier to the towering theater before her. Toad walked ahead. Toadsworth smiled at her, starting off as well.
"I bet this will be fun," he said.
"Are you sure you want to come though? I know you get stressed out easily." Peach followed him.
"I'm sure I'll be fine. What could happen at a play?"
She giggled. "I guess you're right. The play we're going to see was the Legend of the Swordfighter."
"Sounds intriguing!"
The inside was stunningly beautiful. The colorful banner hanging from the ceiling displayed the play Peach, Toad, and Toadsworth were going to. Sparklas scurried around, excited and grabbing all the popcorn they could before the play would start. Toad went to the ticket counter.
"We're here for three tickets for Legend of the Swordfighter, please!"
Peach waved to the Sparkla behind the counter, who returned a smile. He printed three tickets and handed them to Toad.
"Enjoy the show!"
"Alright, Princess. Looks like we're seats ten, eleven, and twelve in theater one." Toad handed Peach her ticket.
Wind picked up from nowhere, blowing the ticket from Toad's hand. Peach fell to her hands and knees. Toad and Toadsworth tried to fight the wind, but it was too powerful and swept them away.
"Toadsworth!" Peach grabbed his hand before he blew out the door.
"Your crown!"
It blew off her head, rolling across the ground and out the door with Toad, the tickets, and a few Sparklas.
"Toad!"
The doors slammed shut as the wind died down. Peach pulled Toadsworth closer.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but what of your crown?"
"We can get it back, I was more worried for you." Peach stood and tried the door. "It's locked."
Toadsworth motioned towards the stairs leading to the next floor. "Maybe there's somebody on another floor who can help us?"
"Good idea. We should try to find a way out of here." She started up the stairs, Toadsworth following behind her, trying to cover his fear. Peach pat his head to help calm him down.
While halfway up the first flight, purple puppet strings attached to the roof and floor of the stairs, and nearly sliced Peach's fingers off doing so.
"Aah! I guess that's a no-go..."
"Princess, there's somebody else in here!"
Peach whipped around. There, leaving the play for the Legend of the Swordfighter, was a small being with a gentle glow around her. She was shaped like a star, with a teal ribbon mimicking a small dress and arms.
"H-hey!" Peach ran down the stairs, tripping on the last step. "Aa-!"
"Oh no! Are you okay?"
Peach looked up at the ribbon-bodied star. "I'm fine, thank you."
"My name's Stella, this theater's guardian! And you two are...?"
"I'm Peach," she curtsied.
"Toadsworth," he introduced. "Did you see what happened back there?"
"No, but the play was completely taken over by these crazy purple guys! Think you two are up to helping me fix the play?"
Peach and Toadsworth shared a look, then Peach nodded. "Sure, I'll help you. This isn't the first time I had to save something from evil."
"Well, come on! The longer we wait, the worse it'll get!"
"Let's save this theater, Toadsworth."
"Oh, alright. But don't expect these old bones to do much in the way of helping." He and Peach followed Stella into the Legend of the Swordfighter's theater.