The Calm before the Storm

## **Plot**

Peach tells Lizel about everything the team has been through thus far before her arrival. Lizel gives her her condolences on Peach's past as well before saying that she thinks they are all brave for what they have been through, also saying that any normal person would have probably perished from those events. Peach thanks her asking how her past life was. Lizel becomes nervous once more only able to say uh, and saying she didn't really have an interesting life. Before she could explain any further, Squirt yells for everyone to stop what they are doing as he is having a crisis deciding on what to get for Toadette's birthday for tomorrow. Peach tells him that he doesn't need to go "all out" as she is sure she will like anything he gives her. Squirt explains that he wants to go "all out" as he thinks she deserves something special. He then goes outside to go on a quest, telling Leroy to join him as he thinks he might know a thing or two being from a village that gave out gifts in a Christmas themed land. Rosalina tells the bros they need to figure out more about what they can about the Macroverse before it's too late. They jump into action and depart leaving both Lizel and Peach alone in the castle. Peach suggests that they both have a girls' day out prompting Lizel to ask what kind of a day is that.

A montage ensues with both of the girls having fun outside in the kingdom. They go to a hair salon, eat ice-cream, shop at the mall, and then end their fun day off at Plack Beach. Lizel asks out loud why she has never visited Earth before prompting Peach to ask what she means. Catching her slip-up, Lizel corrects herself, saying she meant to say why she never traveled around the world before. Peach tells her that she herself couldn't wander for the longest time, being kept in captivity by Toadsworth in fear of something happening to her just like her mother. Lizel asks if she would ever sneak out to which Peach says that her door would be locked, only being able to be opened from the outside and the windows would be kept with bars. She says that she would at least get some fresh air from the outside and that it was nice to feel it on her face. Lizel says that she never really found out where her parents were and that she only lived alone, being raised in an orphanage. They both resonate on each other's feelings and embrace a warm hug. They both leave but a shadow of Fawful swings by along with his laugh.

Squirt, Leroy, and now Mason continue searching throughout town to see what Toadette would want. Mason suggests that Squirt just ask her but he immediately retaliates this by saying that you never ask a person what they want for their birthday as that ruins the surprise. Squirt decides to go over to Mark's and ask him since he was in a relationship with her at one point. Mark answers the door and Squirt jumps straight to the point but Mark admits that he never really took their relationship seriously as he felt she felt the same way. Mark takes this time as the opportunity to tell Squirt that the new boy in class named Jim was hanging out during lunch and he asked if he wanted to hang after school to which he said yes. Squirt gives him a thumbs up and says he hopes it goes well which Mark thanks him for, wishing him luck on the present, but adding that she does have a thing for flowers. An idea sprouts in Squirt's head and they both head to the flower shop at the mall. Leroy asks him why they just can't get cute clothes for her as she is a fashion designer. Squirt insists that that would make them too obvious and she would be expecting that kind of present, further adding she would probably be sick of seeing clothes as a present since she works on them all day. They proceed on to multiple other stores before becoming satisfied with a store that Squirt has an idea with: Daisy's store. Squirt arrives and asks her what her hottest deal at the moment is and she says it's her pumpkin spice pillars of beauty collection. Squirt settles on a single plant pot that contains a pink flower in the middle and deems it worthy of the taking. The trio make their way towards Toadette's house, with Fawful's shadow and laugh once again making an appearance.

Mario, Luigi, and Rosalina make their way towards the back of the castle. They see Daisy who is finishing throwing out trash and sees them to ask how they have been since the Shadow Queen. Luigi tells her that things have been more or less okay, but now they have to find a way to seal more rifts as the seal serum they used was in low supply according to Lizel. Daisy tells them that when she was visiting New York, she spotted purple liquid leaking from behind an alleyway but assumed it was nothing more than just toxins and waste. The trio decide they will take their chances and ask Daisy to join them to guide them where they should go. Daisy asks who will watch over the store with Mario insisting Toadsworth will much to his dismay. The four then wonder how they will be able to travel to New York which Rosalina reveals that there was a warp pipe hidden behind a bush, in the outskirts, admitting it was a little odd how it almost seemed as if it were meant to be hidden. The team don't pay it much attention due to the time crunch and make their way inside the warp pipe, with Rosalina telling it to guide them towards New York. They are sucked into a network of pipes, shooting throughout a complex network of transportation until popping out of a sewer pipe into an alleyway. Daisy jokingly tells the bros that they fit right in as their clothing looks that of plumbing, the bros look at each other confused. They get up and exit the alleyway and enter Times Square with the team except Daisy becoming in awe at the wonders of the new location. Mario thinks out loud saying that he is really realizing just how much bigger their world is compared to the Mushroom Kingdom. Luigi also laments on the fact while Luigi smells hot dogs and becomes instantly addicted to the smell. Daisy pulls him aside, telling him to focus by giving him a quick kiss which causes him to blush. Rosalina feels something in her mind and expresses that she indeed does feel the serum nearby, telling the others to follow her. They pass by busy public streets full of people, across traffic with Luigi almost being run over by a tour bus, Daisy being attacked by a flock of seagulls and Rosalina being commented on how tall she is, which causes her to become briefly self-conscious, citing "that human who plays with Jupiter and dunks it into a net is taller than her". They pass by the docks where a large ship is passing by, revealing the statue of liberty in all its glory, captivating the bros' interest. Daisy pulls them along, explaining that it wasn't originally from there, but as a gift from France, which Luigi asks what that place is, prompting Daisy to hurry them along. They head into another alleyway crawling with rats and stray cats, which scratches Luigi, leading him to think he may get rabies but Daisy points out that is through bites. Rosalina tells them she feels the energy emitting from the serum and Daisy also points out that the alley is indeed the place where she saw the serum. Mario suggests that it was possibly another alley but Daisy says there have got to be over hundreds of them, especially in one of the biggest cities in the world. Luigi tells Mario that maybe there was some back in York but Mario says there is no way as Rosalina would have surely said something. Luigi laments on the fact that they will probably never find it before tumbling by a barrel and covering his hand in goo, which Rosalina reveals is the serum. They jump for joy but an angry lunch lady comes from the door in the back, setting her gaze on Daisy, telling her how much she resents her for stealing her favorite food. The team become confused and ask her what she means. Daisy refuses to elaborate, instead insisting on making things up with her, revealing her name to be Ma'am Mary Ann before quickly telling the others to run away after Mary Ann pulls out a spinning kitchen weapon. The team run through the streets of New York, making sure not to lose sight of one another, they head into a dumpster, losing the Mary Ann. A police officer tells them to get out of the dumpster, attracting the attention of Mary Ann, resuming the chase. They quickly make their way back to the warp pipe and jump in one by one, with Rosalina using her magic to slow her down, giving Daisy enough time to escape with the others. Mary Ann attempts to jump in but closes the portal inside the pipe, leaving it to be an empty green pipe on the ground. The team make their way back to the kingdom overjoyed with finally having found the serum. They head back to the castle with Fawful's last appearance and his sinister smile being in his shadow.