The streets of New Donk City buzzed with their usual chaotic energy. Skyscrapers loomed overhead, their windows reflecting the golden hues of the setting sun, the sides of the buildings teeming to life with a multitude of advertisements and neon signs.

Riba, a blonde haired man in a sharp suit, adjusted his tie as he walked briskly down the sidewalk; his briefcase swinging at his side, the weight of a long day at the office dragging him forward. He just wanted to get home, kick of his shoes, and forget about the endless spreadsheets and meetings.

As he rounded the corner, he accidentally bumped into something round and glowing. It let out a high-pitched yelp, and Riba stumbled back startled.

"Hey! Watch where you're going buddy!" the glowing yellow orb scolded, her voice chipper but annoyed. It was Starlow, the star spite, floating in front of him with a miffed look.

"Sorry" Riba muttered a curt apology, as he adjusted his glasses. "I was just in a hurry home and I didn't notice you."

"Well since you apologized and all, it's all fine and dandy," the star sprite grinned with a toothy smile, as Riba began to sidestep past her not being in the mood for conversation, especially not with a talking star.

However, he wouldn't rid himself of the enthusiastic star sprite so easily as Starlow zipped back in front of him, continuing their conversation.

"So did you hear about the big wrestling match tonight? Rawk Hawk vs Midbus! It's gonna be epic! I heard Midbus has been training in the glitz pit, and Rawk Hawk's got a new finishing move! You're not gonna miss it are you?"

Riba just sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose "Look, like I've said I'm just in a hurry, I've had a long day. I don't care about wrestling, okay? Just let me go home."

Starlow pouted, floating alongside him as he walked "Ugh, You're no fun. Fine, but you're gonna regret it when everyone's talking about it tomorrow."

Riba ignored her, picking up his pace. He didn't have time for this; he just wanted to get home. So he continued his walk off into the bustling streets as the sun continued to dip below the horizon.

—

Meanwhile, in his lab, Professor E. Gadd was hunched over a desk cluttered with gadgets, blueprints, and half-empty coffee cups. Multiple screens lined the walls, displaying maps, data streams, and live feeds across the Mushroom Kingdom. Toadette, his assistant, was busy organizing a pile of papers when a loud alarm blared through the lab.

E. Gadd spat out his coffee, spraying it across one of the monitors. "Wha—?! What's going on?!"

Toadette quickly rushed over, her pig tails bouncing. "Professor! What's happening"

E. Gadd's eyes darted across the screens, as he furiously typed on a keyboard, his expression growing more alarmed by the second. "This can't be right… Multiple anomalies are appearing across the planet! Energy spikes, dimensional rifts— It's as though something is trying to punch it's way into our reality."

Toadette was shocked, nervously she asked "D-Do do you think it has something to with the Plexus?"

E. Gadd's face darkened. "I don't know, but we need to figure this out fast. If the Plexus is truly involved, we're all in serious trouble."

The Professor had a grim look on his face as he continued to analyze the data stream, while Toadette went to make calls to inform people of the ongoing situation.

—

It was the dead of night, and Mario found himself staring at the ceiling listlessly from his bed. It had been a bad habit he had acquired since that day, but Mario couldn't find it in himself to go to bed most days. It was quite in the room, nary a sound save for the occasional creak of the house settling.

However this night, He couldn't go to sleep for a very different reason. Something felt off… Like a shadowy presence was hanging over him, waiting to strike.

"You feel it too, don't you?"

Mario bolted upright, his heart racing. Sitting cross-legged at the foot of his bed was Ashley, the twin-tailed witch of ashen hair starring at him. Her red eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, and her expression was uncharacteristically serious.

"Ashley?!" Mario exclaimed, scrambling to turn on his bed side lamp. "What are you doing in my house? How did you even get In here?!"

Ashley simply ignored his questions, her gaze piercing "You've been marked, Mario. An evil spirit has it's eyes on you. On all of us."

Mario blinked, his mind struggling to process the words. "Marked? What are you talking about? What evil spirit?"

Before Ashley could respond, the lamp flickered and went out. The room was plunged in darkness. Mario froze, his instincts screaming something was terribly wrong.

"It's here." Ashley whispered, her voice barley audible.

—

The streets were bustling outside the Glitz Pit arena, and the air was buzzing with excitement. Everyone was lining up to buy a ticket for the highly anticipated match between Rawk Hawk and Midbus. Flowing through the crowd, Bow the haughty Boo, Goombella the adventurous Goomba, and Koops the shy Koopa Troopa, were all chatting animatedly as they approach the ticket booth.

"Can you believe we're finally gonna see this match?" Goombella said, her eyes sparkling. "I've been waiting for this forever!"

Koops nodded, adjusting his shell. "Yeah, It's gonna be awesome. I just hope Midbus doesn't get crushed too quickly."

Bow rolled her eyes. "Please. Rawk Hawk's all flash, no substance. Midbus is gonna wipe the floor with him."

The three of them strolled through the crowded plaza, passing by the many stalls selling cheap goods and merchandise as they made their way to the ticket both. As they purchased their tickets from the large brown bob-omb managing the booth, a figure lurked in the shadows nearby.

Popple, the self proclaimed "Greatest thief in the world", also known going by the moniker "Shadow thief", was eyeing one Broque Monsieur's stand outside the arena. The stand was packed with snacks and souvenirs of all kinds, and Popple's fingers twitched in anticipation.

"Time for Popple to make his move!" he whispered to himself, as sneaked through the shadows towards the stand.

Quickly he snagged multiple articles of merchandise stuffing his nap sack to the brim. Just as he went to grab yet another shiny ticket however, the world around him went dark. The lights of the area, the glow of street lamps, even the stars in the sky— everything vanished.

Bow, Koops, and Goombella froze, their tickets slipping from their hands. "What's going on?!" Koops exclaimed, his voice trembling.

Popple stumbled back, his prize forgotten. "Uh… this wasn't part of the plan!"

For a moment, the world was silent, suspended in darkness. Then, quickly as it had come, the lights returned.

But Bow, Koops, Goombella, Popple even Broque Monsieur were gone.

All across the world, the same scene played out. Riba and Starlow vanished from the streets of New Donk City. Midbus, and Rawk Hawk disappeared from the arena, leaving behind an eerie silence. Ashley was no longer in Mario's bedroom, being swept away among many others vanishing without a trace.

Mario was left alone, his heart pounding in his chest. The world had changed, and the Plexus had claimed it's victims once anew.

—

The moment the lights had returned Prince Dreambert of the Pi'illo had shot up off his throne, with the feeling in his heart that something was wrong. He quickly rushed to the balcony, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. The sudden darkness that had engulfed the world a moment ago had left him deeply unsettled; something was terribly wrong.

But he was broken out of his musings, while over looking the Pi'illo Kingdom when one his servants burst into the room, panting heavily. "Your Highness! The Dream Stone and the Dark Stone—they're gone!"

Prince Dreambert's eyes widened in shock "What?! How is that possible? They were under the highest security!"

The servant shook his head frantically "I don't know, your Highness. One moment they were there, and the next… they vanished!"

Prince Dreambert knew it, that darkness was used as cover to steal there most precious, and most important artifacts.

"Send the guard to search for the Dream Stone, and Dark Stone! Immediately!

"Yes, your Highness" Quickly the servant ran off to the task assigned to him, floating down multiple corridors in a sprint.

Prince Dreambert felt like throwing something in the moment, however he was interrupted when someone else entered onto the balcony. Dr. Snoozemore, the perpetually drowsy advisor, shuffled into the room, holding a communications device.

"Ah, your Highness… Professor E. Gadd is calling. He says it's urgent." Before he could elaborate, Dr. Snoozemore let out a loud yawn and dozed off mid sentence, slumping against a wall.

Prince Dreambert snatched the device from his advisor's hand. "Professor! What in the stars is happening?"

E. Gadd's face appeared on screen, his expression grim "Your Highness, we've got a serious problem. Multiple rifts have appeared across the world, and they're pulling people into an alternate space—a remnant of the Plexus. Dozens have already vanished, Prince Peasley and Mayor Pauline have already been confirmed to have vanished among many others.

Prince Dreambert's grip tightened on the device. "The Dream Stone and Dark Stone have disappeared as well. They must be recovered at all costs!"

E. Gadd sighed, adjusting his glasses "I understand, but we have no means of accessing this alternate space at the moment. The rifts are unstable, and attempting to traverse them could be catastrophic. We need more information before we can act."

Prince Dreambert's jaw tightened "Then we must find a way. The balance of dreams and nightmares depends on it."