Rays of Hope

## **Plot**

Mario and Luigi head over to the Observatory to look for Rosalina who tells them that the star is emitting too much dark energy. When asked on what they should do, she says that they should just zap it out of their dimension entirely. The bros ask why they didn't just do this before but then quickly remember that without it, they wouldn't have been able to seal the rift gates shut. They then or her to go ahead with the plan but before she could zap it, Bowser and the others barge in saying that Fawful and Lizel still haven't returned. Rosalina reminds them that they are going to take a while regardless. Tony comes to say that the look on Lizel's eyes was something that only true love can answer, further adding that he has never seen such a heartbroken soul before. Squirt then brings up the possibility of something happening to him, along with other negative possibilities such as the rifts somehow opening back up. Luigi assures him that won't happen but this causes Rosalina to question her decision on zapping that star away. Instead, Rosalina tells the bros that they need to follow her, planning on leading them to the Star Sprites.

Lizel and Fawful are thrown into a room by the Darkness Tribe members who are still covered with robes. They demand to know where they are. The members, who call themselves Darkseekers, take off their robes and tell them that they are in the Dark Dimension. The dimension on its own lives up to its name as everything around their space is completely pitch black. Lizel tells them she wants to meet their king but they tell her that he was killed by Blumiere, who is seen as a traitor to their kind for committing treason and behind the murder of their king. Lizel and Fawful are both surprised by this fact and Lizel starts to question on whether they even know where he might be, which gives her hope. They then demand to know who they are. The two look at each other and play the part of two lost tourists who ended up in Tony's hut on mistake. The Darkseekers say that the hut is very important for their search as it was the last sighting of Blumiere. Lizel, secretly wanting to head back to the town, says they will mind their business and return back to their normal lives. The Darkseekers aren't so quick to let them go, however, saying since they know of their existence, they know too much and must be executed as a result. This leads to a brawl inside the castle as Lizel and Fawful battle it out with the Darkseekers. They are successful in their efforts and take one of the Darkseekers' wristwatches to travel back to Earth. However, once back inside Tony's hut, Lizel finds that the Blumiere's letter is missing, which makes her even more infuriated. Fawful mentions that they can still try to find Blumiere since Little Fungitown was the last known location he was spotted in. Lizel mentions that was hundreds of years back when Fawful was William, and that it'd be a miracle if he was still alive. Fawful retaliates this by saying that odds are if she is still alive then he might very well be too, saying that the dark magic that flows through his veins from the Dark Prognostigus must hold some sort of immortality.

Rosalina takes the bros to Viewer's point where they ask Rich Switch how to see the Star Sprites. He is resistant in letting them know as only those who are "worthy" can be able to see them. Rosalina demands they see them, saying they personally asked her to bring Mario and Luigi to them. He still doesn't budge, demanding proof. Rosalina threatens him which causes to be the final nail in the coffin for him, saying he likes "a strong woman". He opens the gateway towards the home of the Star Sprites. Rosalina tells them to hold their breaths as they enter a void that lacks oxygen in any capacity. They make it through the airless pocket and before them floats the Star Sprites who calmly tell the bros they have been eagerly awaiting their arrival. Mario decides to ask them what exactly they should be doing to prevent Dimentio's arrival becoming more dangerous. They reiterate that he will find a way to spread his madness and chaos across both Earth and the Mushroom Kingdom one way or another, but there are certainly ways to stop him from getting stronger. Mario then brings up the question of what was the whole point of patching up the rifts but they insist that they had to do whatever they could, to show retaliation. Luigi doesn't understand this either, and so does Rosalina. The Star Sprites then go into Dimentio's history, saying he was born in the Mischievous dimension at a time where their kind was shifting away from being bad since other dimensions threatened to destroy them. However, Dimentio did not like this, as he was born to be chaotic and mischievous regardless of how his dimension thought. Unhappy with the way his kind was going, he decided to kill his parents. Those who witnessed the crime were given the floro sprout from his made-up dimension, Dimension D and thus were brainwashed into thinking they never saw the crime. However, he didn't capture everyone as word got out of the murder and as a result, he later commited genocide against his own people, which would explain why there aren't any more jesters seen like him anymore. The Star Sprites saw how ruthless he was and decided to banish him right before he managed to invade Earth when he entered York back in the Middle ages. They say they figured the Macroverse would be the perfect prison for him, also adding that its existence was an entire mistake due to Master Faldo. They then switch to the bros' history, finally giving them the answer as to why their hometown was attacked. They were originally from a wealthy town called Cape Coda. It was the capital of the island of Uvolia. Unfortunately, the surrounding villages wanted more out of the taxes being paid to the island, more food, more appreciation for their hard work ethic. One such day, Uvolia was attacked by raiders who sought to steal the tax money back for their own personal gain. This also meant that Cape Coda would be under fire as well. Their father and mother whose names are revealed to be Heather and Lorenzo. They ask the stork to take them as far away as they can but the moment the magikoopa struck it, they fell into a warpipe which would transport them to Yoshi Island. Mario and Luigi revel in the information, relishing on finally knowing the truth behind their origins and their parents. The Star Sprites tell the bros that they need to do whatever they can in their power to stop Dimentio, even if he does manage to take full control of the world. Rosalina takes this as the time to ask them about her secret power and how she could potentially use it. They simply say that, "She will know", but add that restarting the universe will create an entirely different outcome of events, meaning nothing will come out the same as the timeline they are living in currently. Mario asks what exactly they mean and they explain that should Rosalina decide to restart the universe because of Dimentio, while the world will be saved, Mario could not have a brother in the new timeline or Peach could just simply not exist. They all look at each other, taking in the information.

Lizel and Fawful go around the town asking for Blumiere's potential whereabouts but come to nobody. Their search ends with Lizel going to the bar and asking for a drink, lamenting on never being able to find him. Fawful tries his best to keep her chin up, saying there should always be a positive to a negative. A hooded figure sitting next to them says that is never the case, as the world is a bleak and dark place where happiness can never exist. Lizel agrees with him, saying that the world could just come crumbing down and she wouldn't care anymore. Fawful is appalled at the connection between the two. They continue to mope about the world's problems with Lizel asking him why he thinks the way he does. He tells her that he because of the way he is, because of what he has done, he can never see the love of his life ever again, saying he would only put her in danger. Lizel comments on how sad that is, saying she could relate on losing someone you love. They further ask each other about their significant others and the shocking reveal comes that the mysterious man is Blumiere. They both share a warm embrace at the sight of each other. Blumiere however, remembers what he just said and begins to flee but Lizel stops him and says that she isn't letting him leave her, ever again. He says that he is too dangerous and is merely risking his presence at the bar but she says that he could never harm her, even when under the influence of the Dark Prognostigus. He feels her hands and mentions that he may have just proven himself wrong about his opinions about the world with Lizel agreeing about herself as well. They share a kiss and Fawful tells the pair they need to leave immediately and think of as much time to defeat Dimentio as they can.

Everyone returns to the Mushroom Kingdom, much to the surprise of seeing Blumiere alive. He and Tony meet once again, with the latter being rightfully shocked at the sight of his former friend. When asked if there is any way they can remove the Dark Prognostigus's hold on him, he replies that once one has opened the book's pages, they are eternally bound to its power forever. However, he mentions that for the moment he has seemingly gotten control over it and made it to such a way where he can still be "himself" without letting his Count Bleck alter-ego take over, but also mentions that it isn't always possible to keep it inside at all times. Mario asks Rosalina if the Star Sprites can do anything but she mentions that was an action on his part, now he must live with the consequences.

In the Macroverse, Dimentio continues to scheme but mentions that he is beginning to wonder if the bros' powers can be manipulated by his chaotic energy vis the Dark Star. He then comes up with the idea of sending a small spider-like entity to steal the star, wondering why he never tried doing this in the first place. The episode ends with an ominous shot of the star still in the jar underneath the Star Observatory.