Island of Misfortune

## **Plot**

Princess Peach tells Mario of a hidden island that is said to house 3 powerful crystal stars capable of powering any means of inactive machinery or artifact. Mario convinces her that they both should go find it but Toadsworth overhears their conversation and refuses to let Peach go as it would ruin her royalty overlook. Peach insists that she is a grown woman and is old enough to do whatever she pleases but Toadsworth does not accept her ego as an answer and instead decides to have her be in front of the castle greeting tourists for the remainder of the day. He also tells Mario to stay out of going to the island as it has said to be dangerous but Mario suggests that isn't a problem for him since he has solved every other supposed dangerous journey thus far. Though Toadsworth agrees, he still does not advise he goes.

That night, Peach becomes furious and begins to question Toadsworth on his decision once more. He brings up what happened to her mother and she suddenly grows quiet but argues that it isn't healthy for him to keep her shut in for the rest of her life as she has one to live for. He continues to deny listening any further and goes to his study. Peach explains to Mario about what happened to her mother as she was killed one night while taking Peach for a late-night walk when she was just a toddler, and ever since then, Toadsworth has been extremely overprotective of her, even at such an old age. She admits that she does understand his point but wishes he would allow her to do more things. Mario then says that maybe if they both prove to him that they could find the island and come back unharmed, that could show that she is completely fine on her own. She reasons with this and accepts it, planning on heading out the next day while Toadsworth is on a tour guide trip.

Mario and Peach set off to the island and tell Squirt and Luigi to be in charge of the castle. They both snicker at each other, implying they are going to do something mischievous.

While on a taxi towards the island, they find out that it is located on the Dampened Sanctuary region of the island, and must prepare for nonstop rain weather. Mario jokingly asks how bad can the weather be and it turns out it is extremely wet. He and Peach pull out the old map to find that there are no leads other than the region location but Mario spots a secret arrow in the shape of a tree. They follow the direction of the arrow only to find a hatchet on the ground. Peach opens it and they both hop inside to find an underground bunker filled with countless papers and old drawings. Peach realizes they are both inside an old fisherman's bunker. She explains that judging from the inscriptions, they must have been from the mid-1930s. They find an old newspaper detailing a sailor named Ulysses Pucknam who recorded his travels and apparently did find the island but discovered the three stars held a mysterious power that humans and toads would abuse instantly. In an attempt to keep it a secret from the rest of the world, he told everyone that the island was a myth and that it didn't exist, cutting off any route towards it and due to the constant rainy weather, it's practically impossible to stumble upon it. Mario and Peach both wonder how those who didn't want to seek it for pure power got to it but it's revealed that none have even made it to said island but instead have perished in the stormy waters. Just before they lose all hope of finding it, Mario spots a rope leading to a secret hole underground. They follow it and it ends outside to a sailboat with another arrow pointing out towards the ocean. They realize this was the secret way Ulysses found the island and decide to go on the voyage to the island. Along the way, however, they encounter large waves and damp mist, and end up in a thick blanket of fog all around them. Mario senses something is swimming around their boat and just before it bites Peach's head off after it launches out of the water, It is a giant Blooper squid, Mario taps into his inner aura again and strikes it with a powerful fiery punch. Peach lets out a scream and darts to the other side of the boat. Mario continues to fend off the Blooper but has a scuffle and gets dragged underwater by its tentacles. Peach takes this moment to take her parasol out of her dress and uses it to stab the creature in the eye, bouncing around the squid and attacking it with said parasol. Mario gets freed from its grasp and lets it have a final blow. The Giant Blooper suddenly stops attacking and nods its head slowly in an obedient manner and sinks below. The boat begins to rock and the water opens up to reveal that the island is actually located beneath the sea. The three crystal stars appear from a chasm that has been opened by the creature binding its power. Mario and Peach realize that it was a test to see if they were worthy enough to find the stars and they passed. After being given the 3 crystal stars as a reward, both Mario and Peach decide to keep the stars a secret as they both fear the rest of the world will use them for malicious intentions if they were exposed. The Blooper understands their decision and returns back to guard the stars. They both agree to only use them in time of need. They sail back to the hidden bunker and head back to the kingdom.

They return to find the kingdom in shambles over the disappearance of Peach and Mario. Toadsworth instantly accuses Mario of defying his orders and punishes Peach once more but she stands her ground and says that she fought off a beast to save Mario and that the crystal stars do indeed exist. Peach asks him if this is what her mom would have wanted: to not allow her daughter to go out and explore the world but be kept prisoner in her own room her entire life. Toadsworth tearfully answers no and says that he only wants the best for her. They share a hug and embrace the reality that Peach is growing up into a fine-grown woman. Luigi and Squirt appear from the roof and land on a table. When provoked on what they were doing, they say they've been watching episodes of their favorite tv show on the roof since the signal was better.