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The sound of shattering glass drew everyone to the corridor. They had been expecting Bowser, ready to snatch Peach, but when they arrived, there was nothing there but the shards lying on the carpet.
“Mamma mia…” Mario sighed. “Don’t tell me this was just because of bambinos throwing rocks on a dare?”
“I don’t think a bambino would be throwing a rock like this, Big Bro!” Luigi said, picking up something among the glass shards.
Peach’s eyes widened as Mario and Luigi looked at the gold ring set with a purple stone in puzzlement.
To everyone’s shock, Peach leaped through the hole in the window, looking around for the one who had thrown the ring.
There was no sign of her, but there was a note, tied to another purple gem—
Did you really think you had succeeded in bringing the curtain down on me? Think again, Darling. I will bring forth a new tragedy—and your beloved, little plumber will be the main player.
It wasn’t signed, but the purple ink was unmistakable.
Grape was back. More than that, she was very clearly going to target Mario next just to spite Peach.
“Peach?”
She gasped slightly, seeing Mario leap through the window to join her; Luigi was right behind him.
“What is it? What does it say?” Mario asked, looking at the note in her hands. “It’s not Bowser, that’s for sure!”
“And it’s not King Boo, either—thank goodness,” Luigi sighed.
“…No, it isn’t either of your archenemies,” she agreed. She sighed, glancing back at the note. “It’s mine.”
“Che cosa!?” both brothers exclaimed.
Even Yoshi, still watching from the window, yelped in surprise.
“Since when do you have an archnemesis?” Mario asked, waving his arms around in surprise.
“…Since a few weeks ago—you remember when I got the invitation to watch a show?” she asked, looking embarrassed. “Well, this witch named Lady Grape sort of took over the theatre and I sort of fought her to free it.”
“…Wow,” Luigi commented.
“Peach! Amore!” Mario gasped. “Why didn’t you call me for help then? Or mention it until now!?”
“Because I knew if Toadsworth found out, I’d never heard the end of it; I begged Toad not to tell anyone—even you,” she sighed. “Oh, Mario, I’m sorry—I should’ve told you, at least; we’re not supposed to have any secrets from each other!”
“It’s alright, Peach, I know—you probably did not want me to worry,” Mario sighed.
“And you know I’m good at that,” Luigi added.
“Well, the cat’s out of the bag now; Lady Grape wants revenge…” She shut her eyes, blinking back tears. “And she’s going to go after you to get it.”
“Oh…”
“Mario, I think you and Luigi should go back to Brooklyn for a while, at least until this thing blows over,” she said.
“No!” Mario exclaimed. “Amore, I cannot leave you when I know you have a battle to fight! I must do what I can to help you!” He took her hands in his. “And if something happens to me… then I believe that you will save me, just as I have saved you.”
Peach blinked back a few more tears and nodded, too overcome to speak.
Luigi sighed.
“I guess I’ll stay and help, too,” he chuckled nervously. “But, um… what do we do?”
Peach sighed, looking up at the currently empty sky.
“For now…” she said. “We wait—and get ready to fight.”