Pianta Guard: Okay, you just need to go straight to Delfino Square. You can’t miss it, pals. Your first job is to get rid of all that ugliness.
Pianta Guard 2: And remember, we’ll be watching you, pals. We’ll know if you start slacking off!
Mario: Well, we should get going.
Luigi: Come on.
The Mario Bros. headed down the street towards Delfino Square. As they turned the corner, they saw Toadsworth and Peach.
Toadsworth: Well, I’m pleased to see you’re safe! I must tell you, we were walking around town earlier, and… it seems the area near the Shine Gate is still quite bright. Perhaps you should check it out, Masters Mario and Luigi.
Peach: Oh, Mario and Luigi! You’re okay after all! I just knew you would be! And why is the sky so dark, huh? It’s not sun-drenched! This is hardly my idea of a relaxing vacation, you two…
FLUDD: Come! We must hurry to the Square!
When the Mario Bros. arrived at Delfino Square, there was a gigantic puddle of paint!
Pianta Lady: I heard there was supposed to be a statue of the Grand Pianta here! We traveled all the way from Pianta Village!
Pianta Man: I don’t know, dear, but it might have something to do with this paint…
Mario: Luigi, we should clean this place up!
Luigi: Right you are, bro!
The Mario Bros. began to clean up the paint. But as they started spraying the center, another Piranha Plant popped out of the paint!
FLUDD2: Aim for the mouth! It’s the weak point!
Sure enough, the Mario Bros. were able to spray the Piranha Plant when it opened it mouth. After the third hit, the Piranha Plant cried out and disappeared! All the paint around it had disappeared, too. RUMBLE…
Mario: W-w-what was th-that?
Slowly, the Grand Pianta statue began to rise out of the ground.
Luigi: W-w-wow!
On top of the statue, a shadowy figure holding a giant paintbrush appeared.
Toadsworth: Princess, look! On the statue’s head!
Peach: … Mario?
The shadowy figure jumped off the statue and ran right towards Peach.
Peach: What are you doing?
The shadowy figure then grabbed Peach, stuck his tongue out at the Mario Bros., and ran off!
FLUDD: You must try and run after Peach!
FLUDD2: Try spraying the thief with water!
The Mario Bros. dashed off to save Peach. Every time they got close to the shadowy figure, they sprayed him with water.
Peach: Help me!
However, the shadowy figure would always shake it off and keep running. Soon, Mario got close enough to grab him.
Mario: Gotcha!
The shadowy figure looked at Mario and threw him to the ground without even slowing down.
Luigi: Mario! Are you okay?
Mario: I’m okay! You go get Peach, I’ll catch up!
Luigi: Okay…
Luigi kept up the chase. Finally, the shadowy figure fell and dropped Peach.
Shadowy Figure: Ow ow ow OW! Not fair! Completely unfair! You shouldn’t be allowed to use tools like that!
Suddenly, the shadowy figure turned into a ball and quickly headed back to the Pianta statue.
Luigi: Mario! He’s getting away!
Mario: I’m on it, Luigi!
Mario ran as fast as he could back to Delfino Square. He got there just in time to see the shadowy figure paint a sloppy M on the statue and jump in.
Mario: Wha?
FLUDD: Try spraying it with water!
Mario sprayed the M and it seemed to
become a portal. He jumped inside. Luigi had just arrived and saw Mario
jump into the M. Luigi decided to follow Mario and jumped in too.