The Ultimate Escape Pt: 1 A Force to be Reckoned With

## **Plot**

Rosalina prepares to ready the Star Observatory for another ride but is stopped by Mario who says they will need to go in without attracting any attention. She takes this time to ask why he lied to her about never telling Luigi the truth about the DIreful Lights. Mario sighs and says that he didn't want her to worry about it as it wasn't her burden. Rosalina understands but points out Luigi may not seee it the same way. Mario assures her they will find a way to reconcile and regarding the mission, they will stay hidden but then wonders how they will be able to crossover to the Macroverse since the rift had been sealed shut. Bowser fire breathes into it but nothing happens. Rosalina then offers to try and use her magic but isn't sure it is going to help. She blasts it with a ray of powerful energy which does indeed work and the serum is gone. However, she says that her magic effect on the serum was temporary, meaning if they do not hurry back by the time the rift closes, they won't be able to return home. Mario mentions that they better hurry off if that's the case. Squirt tells Mason and Leroy to stay behind should anything else happen. They accept and go into their "defense mode". Mario and everyone else heads into the rift and into the Macroverse.

Lizel and Fawful bring Luigi to Dimentio with Fawful saying that he wasn't the one who captured him but it was Lizel to her surprise. Dimentio congratulates Lizel, saying as a reward she decides what they do with Luigi who is still tied up. She tells Dimentio that if they could just keep him in the prison tower for the time being as she "hasn't figured it all out yet". Dimentio obliges and tells her to take him there. Fawful tells Dimentio that their mission to invading Earth draws closer but Dimentio takes a turn, saying it is "his" mission, provoking Fawful on their last agreement that it had to be him who captured a human being. Fawful tries to justify his answer but Dimentio isn't amused. However, he tells Fawful to continue doing his side duties and he "might" change his mind about him.

The team make their way through the Macroverse, avoiding the giant monsters and creepy inhabitants. They hide behind a large hill, seeing a large titanium troll make its way past them. Along the way, the team relishes on the fact that Lizel was Timpani the whole time, trying to comprehend that along with the fact that she was working with Dimentio and Fawful the whole time. Toadette and Daisy both wonder how their shops will hold up while they are gone which it's revealed Toadsworth is trying to take care of both shops amidst a big rush. Squirt decides to speak with Toadette about her birthday admitting that while the current moment isn't the best time, he just wants her to know that he deeply cares about her in case they don't make it out alive. She thanks him, saying besides her parents, nobody else visited her. Squirt peers at her present from his back but decides to still not give it to her, saying that everything will be better once all the trouble is over. Daisy sees him do this and asks him why he doesn't give her the present to which he responds that he is waiting for the right time. Daisy tells him there is never a right time for anything, leaving Squirt to ponder on the thought. Bowser speaks with Mario, asking him what he thinks of Lizel to which he replies that he should've stuck to his gut as he knew something was off with her the moment she came to their lives, but secretly hopes this will be another Leroy situation where they weren't doing it for malicious intent. Bowser tells him that he is beginning to feel an extreme sense of Deja vu, saying if this is how he felt about him. Mario tells him that wasn't the case as he just thought he was a big selfish jerk but after seeing the visions regarding his father's treatment of him, everything started to make sense, saying that's why a person doesn't really know another person, no matter how much they think they do, they can keep secrets and they might have something going on in their lives that you don't know about. Bowser looks on deep in thought at the fact. Peach asks Rosalina how they will sneak into the tower and she tells them they will have to just wait and see, saying making plans without aforethought is always a risky move, but to also stay spontaneous, they will never know what hit them. They arrive at the base of the fortress with guards right above them. Rosalina tells the group they will split into groups. Mario, Peach, and Bowser in one group while Rosalina will help Daisy, Toadette, and Squirt. They all agree and come up with a plan to infiltrate the fortress. Phase l involves Bowser having to distract the minions in the front with breathing fire, causing a ruckus outside the walls. While they are distracted, Mario and Peach head inside a tower window of the fortress. They see a sinister looking tower in the distance with Lizel carrying Luigi in her arms, Mario tells Peach they know where to go now.

Lizel unties Luigi who is furious and doesn't want to speak with her. She begs him that she never wanted to do the deed but had no choice, Luigi snaps back saying that everyone always has a choice, what matters is if that person is brave enough to make the right one. She tells him that Dimentio told her if she were to do her deed correctly, he would locate where Blumiere is to her, saying that she misses him dearly and only wanted to be happy, saying she feels extreme guilt for everything she has done, and begins to cry next to Luigi. He tells her that she needs to remember who she is working for; Dimentio. Luigi then asks her if she truly thinks he is a man of his word and will help her, saying he will probably kill her if anything once he sees there is no use for her. Lizel reveals that he was the one who found her and saved her after the Tribe of Darkness King banished her to the Macroverse. Luigi tells her that he didn't save her out of the kindness of his heart, but rather is just using her as a tool and will get rid of her once his mission is finished. Fawful comes in and asks how the capture is going to which Lizel says it is going fine. Fawful tells her they need to "get ready", before flying off. Lizel whispers to Luigi that she will make it up to him and that she will rescue him even if it means the possibility of death comes to her. Luigi wonders to himself what the others must be doing and if they are trying to save him.

Rosalina uses her magic to dig a hole beneath the fortress using Luma as a light source for them to traverse through the hole. Along the way, Daisy tells Rosalina that she is going to just be suspicious as soon as someone introduces themselves as something at first. Rosalina responds with that it just shows that not everyone is who they might say they are, not everything is what it seems. Daisy asks her if something like that has ever happened with her, to which she responds that it has yet to happen, but plans to keep it at number 0. Toadette hits her heads prompting Squirt to ask her if she is okay, and she says that she is fine. Squirt still takes the time to rub her head, sharing a gaze with her. Daisy tells them they need to move along but admits she finds them "cute" causing them both to blush.

Mario and Peach run through the halls of the tower and both wonder if Luigi is okay. A band of guards blocks their way and threatens to kill them. Mario and Peach give each other a sly look and play along with being captured, realizing they might be taken to the tower where Luigi is being kept captive. However, the guards do not take them there, instead taking them to Dimentio himself with the duo separated and tied. Dimentio greets them, introducing himself and saying it is an "honor" to finally meet the famous Super Mario himself. Mario makes it clear he isn't interested in being acquainted with him, demanding to know what he has done with Luigi. Dimentio tells him that Luigi is just fine, as they haven't done anything to him, yet. He tells Mario and Peach that he wasn't always bent on world domination, being born from the Mischeivious Dimension, he had no choice but to be the person he was meant to be from Day One. His dimension was regarded as one of the most hated places in the universe, rivaling that of the Macroverse. So one day, his parents, the rulers of the dimension decided to make a change and rename the dimension, "The Lucky Dimension", recreating the mischief image as that with luck and peace instead. Dimentio became furious, now having to assimilate to another way of life even though he was taught to be the exact opposite his entire life. Unfortunately, he decided to let his parents know he felt in the most mischievous and rather deadliest way possible by killing them. He admits he did feel guilty and sad about the crime for a long time but got away with it for almost an entire year until he was eventually caught and banished to the Macroverse, where he sought to create his own image once more, manipulating the creatures and those who inhabited the dimension to follow under his commands. He became bored, wanting to spread his mayhem elsewhere and after learning of Earth, he planned to take it over, also recreating the world in his own image as well. Unfortunately, the Star Sprites learned of his crime and punished him, making Mario flashback to when Starlow told him the story back in York. He then says that he saw Lizel then known as Timpani, on the verge of death and decided he could use her to his advantage as he was unable to access Earth. Mario tells him that he is a despicable being, and how could a person ever justify their reasoning for such horrendous things committed. Dimentio then says that his justification is as simple as one thing; he is just insane.

The others make it through the hole but come face to face with minions surrounding them. Rosalina begins a battle with them, using her magic and knocking out a handful of them over. Daisy slaps some in the face while Toadette and Squirt tag team their way around them, beating them up as they go. They forge on towards the prison tower which Rosalina can sense Luigi. While on the way there, Squirt alerts the others that they should see something in a room. It is an artifact room, full of evil objects and artifacts. Daisy tells them to look at one such object, an open book on a table with dim light. Rosalina looks at the book and reveals that it is none other than the Dark Prognostigus. She wonders if there is anything that has to do with Dimentio in the book. There is a section on him, saying that one faithful day, he will soon try to takeover the Earth but will face many downfalls from two brothers of red and green. However, one such event will be unprecedented, showing up with no warning. Rosalina ponders on the thought, turns a page and it's discovered that a large comet will break off from a Nightmare Chunk much like how the Dark Star did hundreds of years ago. The team realize the severity of the situation, saying they must hurry. They enter the tower but are unfortunately met with nobody there. Two ghoulish creatures grab them and also have them taken to Dimentio. Dimentio expresses his excitement and glee after learning that there was a rescue mission in place. He tells the guards to imprison the others but tells Mario there is a special place for him, as he tells Mario that he will have fun watching Luigi be tortured by him. Fawful returns, expecting a big prize for him in return. Dimentio says that he almost forgot about it before shockingly stabbing him with a Dark Spear, telling him that he knew he was secretly heading to Earth all this time, telling him if that attack doesn't kill him, he will make sure he is dead after dealing with the team before leaving Fawful to seemingly die. The rift back on Earth begins to dwindle and close bit by bit, signifying that time is running out for the heroes.

To Be Continued appears on screen