They popped out of the green pipe into the little valley just outside town, the same hill where they'd first met Peach and Toad. The air smelled like grass and old coins.
"Ahhh," Mario stretched, hands behind his head. "Feels good to be back, doesn't it, Luigi?"
"Yeah, it sure does." Luigi squinted. Everything looked normal… mostly. "So what's the problem?"
They both glanced, as they always did, to the spot where they'd first seen Peach. Good memories. Then - first difference. Three Mushroom Head Guards ringed another pipe. It looked just like the one they'd used, but this one hadn't been here.
"New pipes?" Mario called. "Have you guys been using two other plumbers?!"
Toad nearly tripped over himself running up. "No no! That's the problem! Bowser! These pipes came out of nowhere, and they lead to different worlds!"
Mario and Luigi traded a look.
"Different worlds?" Luigi said. "More than ours and the Mushroom Kingdom?"
"I don't know all the details," Toad puffed. "The Chancellor and the Princesses are waiting for you. Hurry!"
They took off toward the castle.
Behind them, the bushes rustled. Iggy Koopa, wide-eyed and jittery, pressed his face through the leaves. "They're here! They're here! Let's go tell Dad."
Wendy sighed loud enough to scare a Goomba. "I cannot believe I had to come out here to spy on those stupid Mario brothers. I broke a nail! And we're not even doing anything? Just watching?"
Iggy blinked, then grinned. "No, I got this." He fished a shiny robotic beetle from behind his shell.
"What is that? Where'd you get it? Why didn't I get one?"
"From the egg-head guy. It's a bug."
"Eww, a bug? How is that going to ..."
"Dad said press this button and throw it at Mario. It'll keep an eye on him for us." He mashed the button and lobbed the beetle. It beeped, landed, and skittered after the brothers.
"Okay, job done," Iggy said, dusting his hands. "Let's go!"
"About time." Wendy snapped her fingers. Two Koopa Troopas appeared, lifted her by the arms, and they disappeared back toward Bowser's keep.
By then, Mario, Luigi, and Toad were through the castle gates. Inside the hall, Peach and Daisy sat beside the Chancellor - Peach still in her summer tennis outfit, Daisy in her tour golf gear. At the sight of Mario, Peach sprang up. Daisy stayed seated, but a big smile slid across her face when she saw Luigi.
"Mario! Luigi! You made it!" Peach called.
"Peach! I'm glad you're okay." Mario jogged closer. "What's going on?"
Under the door, the little metal beetle ticked in and parked itself in a corner.
Daisy rose to stand beside Peach. "There are strange monsters appearing all over," she said, eyes flicking to Luigi. "It's getting dangerous."
"We'll help," Luigi said. "We always - uh - help."
"We know you will," the Chancellor said. "Let me explain."
He did. Mario and Luigi's eyebrows climbed higher with each sentence.
"So there are more worlds than just ours and the Mushroom Kingdom, huh?" Mario said.
"And Bowser opened tubes to get to the new ones," Luigi added.
"That's right," Peach said. "We haven't gone in yet - we were waiting for you two. Bowser's taken control of most of the pipes. We don't know if he's already gone through. But we have to stop him!"
"It's going to be dangerous," Mario said, puffing his chest. "Me and Luigi will..."
Peach's cheeks puffed right back. "Ohhh no. Daisy and I have been training for this. The time is here - we're coming too!"
Daisy nodded, firm.
"And me!" Toad hopped in place. "I've been working hard and I'm gonna help you out, you'll see, RIGHT?!"
Mario and Luigi shared a grin.
"Okay," Luigi said, "but before we dash off, how do we know the pipes even go where you think? How do we know it's safe? What if we pop out over a lava pit?"
"Good question," the Chancellor said. He folded his hands. "The castle library holds records of a Tube Switch Point, built millennia ago to link the worlds. The texts say each pipe was placed in a precise, safe location. We would never risk a life on words alone, so we tested one portal with everything the Kingdom knows. It is safe. That pipe will be our first stop. We must find Bowser and learn his plan."
"First?" Luigi asked. "So if he's not there…"
"Then we try the others," the Chancellor admitted. "Hopefully it won't come to that."
Mario clapped his gloved hands. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go! Where's the pipe?" He popped into a backflip and landed with flair.
Still got it.
"In the vault room," Peach said, pointing. "Basement level."
"Here," Daisy added, handing out satchels. "Fire Flowers and Mushrooms, just in case."
They tucked the power-ups away and followed the Chancellor down the stone stairs. The vault door groaned open to reveal a single green pipe, polished and humming.
"Here we go," Mario said.
Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and Toad lined up before the tube. They looked from face to face and nodded - ready.
"One more thing," the Chancellor said softly. "The old texts speak of a terrible evil. It's why the tubes were sealed. We don't know Bowser's intentions, so assume the worst. If the evils of the worlds unite, the worlds could fall into darkness. But the legends also name a hope - the Light of the Worlds. You are the light of ours. Find allies. Make friends. Save us."
He managed a small smile. "Good luck."
They huddled in a quick circle and stacked their hands. Mario nodded. Everyone nodded back.
They broke, turned to the pipe, and jumped.
The metal beetle waited a beat, then clicked after them. The pipe sang, the room tilted, and the colors pulled like taffy - then they were gone.