(As Long as We're Together) Everything's Gonna Be Okay

Nastasia, What Are You Up to Now?

"What was that all about?" Wario asks curiously as he and Mario walk away.

"Nothing, it's over." Mario says, waving it off.

"It's still weird, isn't it? Seeing your brother friends with someone he was brainwashed into helping end the world?"

"I thought I was past it." Mario admits. "Thanks to all of your help to repair the damage."

"Then let's get past it." Wario tries. "Put me back on. Save yourself all the unneeded stress."

"We are so making that table at the café ours." Mr. L promises as he and Mimi walk up the path to his house. "That cookie, mamma mia! And now I can say things like, 'next time's on me' and actually mean it!"

But when they get inside, they find a very distraught Toad crying.

"Toad?" Mr. L walks over to him, putting a hand on his arm. "You okay? What's going on? Is something going on with Mario?"

"No." Toad sniffs. "He's the same as always, there for everyone, opens up to no one."

"What about his friendship with Wario?"

" Wario??? " Toad manages to laugh. "The poor guy's so paranoid, he'd throw him out for breathing wrong if he could get away with it. It's all I can do to make him take a break. But we both know I'm not the person he'd listen to, don't we?"

"Isn't the princess otherwise occupied?" Mr. L asks.

"Not her. He's so exhausted running around trying to lighten the load for her, on top of spying on Wario, no one can get through to him. He almost bit my head off when I offered to take his place. I saw the look in his eyes. He was disappointed it was me."

Mr. L rubs a hand over his face, sighing, "We talked. He admitted I did the right thing by walking away."

"He didn't want you to feel guilty." Toad says simply. "He won't let anyone worry about him. He's working himself to death."

Mr. L sighs. "Wow, that's...not good. No wonder he was so upset when we saw him. But back to the original question: why are you here?"

"I heard about your debut at the racetrack for the upcoming Cup. About how you wanted someone to vouch for you?"

"You know someone else who'd be willing to pitch in?"

"I thought Mario might have a name, so I asked him."

"Toad, please!" Mr. L smacks a hand to his face. "I don't want my brother adding me to the pile of things he's running himself ragged over. That's why I asked the princess, who asked you if you knew anyone."

"But I didn't." Toad explains. "So I asked the person I knew would come through for you, no matter what."

Mr. L sighs. "And?"

"When I mentioned what you were up to, he got upset."

"Of course he did! My boss wanted me to ask Mario first about vouching for me and I said no because I didn't want to keep hurting him. That's what everyone made a point to tell me whenever they see me out on the streets."

"I didn't know he was doing so badly!" Toad defends. "Or just how hard he's fighting to pretend he's fine. He spent a whole day dead silent. Wouldn't talk to anyone, not even the princess. I had to do something!"

"Okay." Mr. L concedes. "I can see why you thought coming here might help. But I wish you'd been smart enough to just leave him alone. We were doing so well not too long ago."

"Look, Toad, is it?" Mimi speaks up. "As fun as this has been, you should--"

"Wait! After I left the castle, my gut told me I couldn't just leave it alone. So I started digging around, and a very nice woman named Nastasia--"