Mario collected everyone's plates as the two heroes finished their meals and continued chatting, mostly about King Boo. Despite all the excitement from earlier, it turned out to be one of the most peaceful of nights. Everyone's plates had been completely cleared off, as they always were whenever Mario made his famous spaghetti.

Peach smiled at her two friends and let out a yawn. Even though her life felt fairly routine, she wouldn't trade it for the world because she had her friends beside her. Home wasn't the place she rested her head each night, it was the people she spent her time alongside; Prince Mario and Daisy.

"Well, it's late," Peach smiled. "I think Daisy and I best be going."

Prince Mario nodded, then let out a yawn himself. A few toadettes ran in to take the dirty dishes from his hands. The prince bowed his head to thank them before he walked the two heroes down the castle halls. He held the palace gates open for them to allow them out, then waited at his door as they left, watching them until they both disappeared into the distance. 

Daisy kept her gaze up at the night sky as they walked. The sun had already set, leaving nothing but a sheet of darkness littered with countless stars. She hoped that someday one of her adventures would lead her to the sky. Now that would really be something... 

She loved her planet and everything it had to offer. The flowers were beautiful and the kingdom was the best home she could possibly ask for. But... there was something about the sky that made it so... enticing. It was the great unknown, the limit that people reached for. And someday, she was going to step out of the shadows and grab the stars in her hands. She just knew it.

Meanwhile, Peach kept her eyes on the ground, noting each delicate flower she walked past. Mario's kingdom was one of the most beautiful, filled to the brim with breathtaking gardens. She couldn't ask for more. Grounded in the life she and Daisy made, who would want for more when she already had it all? Everything was perfect. A perfect life in a perfect world. Were there incidents? Yes. But it was those incidents that added meaning to life.

"It sure is quiet tonight," Daisy muttered, keeping her eyes on the stars as they twinkled and sparked.

Peach nodded in agreeance, though she never minded the quiet. After a long day of adventuring through haunted houses full of creaking floorboards and slamming doors, the quiet night air was welcomed with open arms. She couldn't wait to fall into her soft, squishy bed. Maybe when morning came with its golden sunlight, she'd make some tea and toast. She didn't get peaceful mornings often, even when there wasn't an adventure to be had, because there was always something to be done, but maybe she'd allow herself a morning of tranquility tomorrow. That would be nice.

"It kinda makes me wish something new would happen," Daisy continued. "Like... BOOM! You know?"

"I like things the way they are," Peach breathed. "But... I see what you mean—"

"PEACH! WE NEED HELP!" a small, shrill voice called out from behind the two heroes, making the girls turn around themselves. Surely enough, a small toadette had run up to them, so panicked that she was practically falling apart. She was breathing so quickly that it looked like she might explode. Peach recognized this toadette, she was the mail toadette. Her primary job was traveling to Sarasaland to keep Prince Luigi updated on his brother, but when she wasn't doing that she was usually the one spreading news and grabbing Peach whenever things went south.

"Whoa, what is it?" Peach asked, kneeling down by the small toadette and placing a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. Peach's sweet and gentle voice had a natural calming effect when used correctly. Of course, she could also change her voice to make her sound tough and serious, but this wasn't one of the instances where she'd need to do that.

"Prince Mario!" the toadette quickly spat. "He's gone! Again!"

The toadette's voice was more urgent than usual. Because kidnappings happened so often, the majority of the kingdom had grown used to it. She seemed shaken up, though. Perhaps due to the fact that Mario had already been kidnapped earlier that day. Two kidnappings happening so close together wasn't common. In fact, it never happened!

"Twice in one day?" Daisy asked, raising one of her eyebrows before looking away and pinching the bridge of her nose. "Welp, there's only one person who could be responsible for this..."

"Yep," Peach said, standing up and adjusting her pink cap so it fit better on her head. "Don't worry, Toadette. We'll have this handled before morning comes.

The toadette nodded as Peach and Daisy exchanged glances, then sprinted for the forest, heading straight for Evershade Valley, one of King Boo's main hideouts. There were three areas he frequented most often, usually taking shelter in abandoned mansions (though occasionally he'd go as far as occupying hotels). However, by then Daisy and Peach had learned his patterns, so they were fairly certain he'd be making his way towards Evershade. It was where spirits like himself were most strong.

Just a few short moments later, the two heroes kicked down the doors of an old, yet elegant mansion. Surely enough, King Boo was there, pacing back and forth as he always did when he was scheming.

The ghost king seemed to flinch slightly, then turned to look at both heroes with wide eyes.

"King Boo," Daisy hissed, clenching her fists and getting into a fighting stance.

"Peach?! And... I want to say Rose?"

"It's Daisy," Peach corrected.

"Whatever. What are you doing here?! You're about a week early!" King Boo exclaimed.

"We're here to stop you and save the prince," Daisy stated boldly. "Now hand him over!"

King Boo stilled, then looked back at the army of small boos behind him, who each looked equally as confused as their king. After a moment of simply floating there, the ghost king looked back at the heroes and shrugged.

"Um... that's great, but I think you're off schedule. I haven't even gotten to the kidnapping part of my next plan," he muttered. "But you're welcome to sit in the foyer and wait! It'll take me a few days to get all the details laid out, but I believe this will be my best scheme yet!"

Peach shook her head, then looked at Daisy, confused.

If Prince Mario wasn't there, then where was he? Who else would bother kidnapping him?

"Maybe he just went on a walk...?" Daisy muttered, looking at Peach and seeming to read her confused mind.

Their confusion was only doubled when a burst of soft laughter seemed to echo throughout the haunted mansion. This laugh was far different from King Boo's. The ghost king usually went for more of a maniacal, sadistic vibe. This laugh was more mysterious, more formal.

"Peach! Daisy! Help!" Prince Mario's voice seemed to beg from everywhere, yet nowhere. King Boo, Peach, and Daisy all turned around themselves.

"Alright, which portrait do you have him trapped in now?!" Daisy demanded, causing King Boo to defensively put his arms up.

"I don't know! This wasn't my doing!" the ghost king exclaimed. 

"Of course not, you wouldn't be able to pull off something like this," a smooth, sickeningly kind voice chimed. "This was my doing!"

Suddenly, Prince Mario appeared, trapped in a rainbow cage and floating above everyone else. Next to him was a young, formal-looking woman with short white hair that had white butterfly hairclips scattered throughout. She had an intense look in her light gray, almost white eyes. She sat next to the prince, just outside of his cage and on the mansion's chandelier.

"Hey, be careful with that!" King Boo demanded. "Those are expensive and not made to hold humans!"

"My mistake. I'll be out of your small little place in just a few moments," the woman smiled. It was a smile Peach recognized. A villain smile. Her voice was incredibly smooth and shifted from feeling cold to warm with each sentence.

"Who are you?" Daisy demanded. "Let him go! That's an order!"

"Oh, I don't do orders," the woman smiled. "I do enjoy introductions, though."

She bowed her head slightly, then held her hand out, making a scepter appear in her grasp out of thin air. Peach drew back slightly. A magic user... Was she a witch?

The scepter was white with a faded yellow star situated on top of it.

"Your precious prince is being briefly borrowed by none other than me, Countess Tippi," she smiled. "Don't worry. I have manners. He will be returned the moment he no longer serves any purpose to me."

"Okay, seriously, who are you?" King Boo demanded, his voice growing heavy with frustration. "In case you haven't heard, kidnapping the prince is my job. I don't remember requesting a substitute. Thank you, but I have this handled. Who do you think you are, showing up and stealing my job?!"

"Aw, silly, I already told you. I'm Countess Tippi, the chosen executioner of the Light Prognosticus," the countess laughed. "Please memorize it. I'd hate to repeat myself a third time."

Peach shook her head. She had no idea what this Tippi character was talking about, but it didn't sound good.

"We don't care who you are. Release the prince, now! Or else!" Peach commanded.

Countess Tippi giggled to herself, then hummed and brushed off her scepter.

"Or else what? Hmm? Tip of advice from Tippi, don't threaten me. It won't work, anymore," the countess stated. "And I won't be releasing him. Unfortunately for you, your precious prince is necessary for me. He'll be brought back with me and used to bring a prophecy to light. I'd explain, but I'd hate to bore you with unnecessary details."

"What kind of villain are you?!" King Boo gasped. "Boring heroes with those details is like, the best part of the gig!"

"Clearly you're doing it wrong, then," Countess Tippi giggled. "And think what you want of me, but I'm not the villain."

"Yeah, sure, real believable," King Boo huffed. "You know what? I'm tired of this."

The ghost king tapped his gemmed crown, making all the boos surrounding him fall into line. Countess Tippi nodded at him, then covered her mouth and quietly giggled again.

"Cute," she beamed. "You know, I was going to leave you behind, but just for that, I've decided to take you with me, King Boo! You and your little ghost army just may be useful!"

King Boo rolled his eyes. As if someone could take him. This girl didn't know who she was talking to.

Or, maybe King Boo didn't know who HE was talking to.

Countess Tippi raised her eyebrows, then tapped her staff, making a large, bright light seem to emerge from it. A moment later, what looked to be a large vortex of light had formed in the center of the mansion, sucking each and every boo inside. King Boo gasped and rushed forward, trying to save his subjects only to be sucked into the vortex of light as well.

Peach shook her head, then ran back to the door behind her and grasped the handle, hoping to prevent herself from being sucked in. Daisy sprinted up to her, though the fierce force of the portal was already pulling her away from Peach's grasp.

"Daisy!" Peach cried, holding her arm out as her friend was consumed by the portal of light. Prince Mario and the rainbow cage he had been trapped in had vanished as well, leaving Peach alone in a mansion, fighting against the fiercest of winds. Her grip on the handle loosened slightly, but she wasn't going to let go.

It wasn't until the doorknob broke from its hinges that she fell into the portal, and all went white. There was nothing left, but the sound of Countess Tippi's laughter, singing through the air like a long-lost melody.