Step outside the castle and head south. Along the way a Brock hints that Mushrise Park is always popular with tourists. Take the Brock’s advice and head toward Mushrise Park to the south. But in the area just south of Pi’illo Castle, Mario and Luigi come to a rickety wooden bridge. The nearby sign warns that the bridge is out of commission due to storm damage. But really, how dangerous could it really be? There is no where else to go at this point, so take your chances by crossing the bridge. However, about halfway across, the bridge begins to crumble, collapsing behind Mario and Luigi. They do their best to stay ahead of the destruction but are soon dropping into a deep and dark chasm.

Pi’illo Castle Underground

Bloatula Bashing

Mario and Luigi find themselves in a dark chamber deep beneath Pi’illo Castle. This area is occupied by several Bloatulas, large spider-like monsters. Advance across the narrow bridges to the north and battle all the Bloatulas along the way to gain more EXP. There’s nothing particularly challenging about defeating the Bloatulas. Simply use Jump attacks to whittle down their HP while evading or countering their simple attacks. Be sure to hit the ? Block in this chamber before exiting to the north.

Pi’illo Rescue

Upon entering the next chamber, Mario and Luigi find another pillow-like object, similar to the one they found in the castle’s ancient hidden area. At Starlow’s suggestion, Mario tries to sleep on it but nothing happens. But when Luigi gives it a shot, a multi-colored portal opens immediately. Soon after Luigi falls asleep, Prince Dreambert appears and explains how Luigi can become one with the dream world, creating a portal. The pillow-like object beneath Luigi’s head contains another of the Pi’illo Folk, like Prince Dreambert. The Pi’illo Folk have been imprisoned within these purple objects, trapped within nightmare chunks. The Pi’illo Folk can be saved by destroying the nightmare chunks within the dream world. Mario is more than willing to help Dreambert rescue his people—one of them might know where Princess Peach is. Without hesitation, Mario leaps into the portal and enters the dream world, joining Prince Dreambert.

Dream World (D)

A

Mario enters the dream world along with Dreamy Luigi. Advance to the left in this room and initiate a battle with the first Storch you encounter. Storches are torch-like monsters capable of attacking with flames. Storches are often joined by Drombas. During such battles, eliminate the Storches first and then go after the Drombas. Engaging and defeating large groups of enemies like this is a great way to boost your EXP and level up. So don’t miss the chance to engage in battle.

As Mario and Dreamy Luigi attempt to exit this room, a portion of the ceiling collapses, causing the floor beneath their feet to crumble. After falling a short distance and dusting themselves off, Dreamy Luigi is drawn to a nearby pillar. His imagination (or Luigination) is bridging the real and dream worlds. These are called Luiginary Works. Press followed by to initiate this particular Luiginary Work. This causes Dreamy Luigi to become one with the nearby pillar.

Now that a connection has been made to the real world, watch how the green leafy branches attached to the pillar move as Starlow tugs on Luigi’s mustache on the Touch Screen. Use this Luiginary Stache Tree to launch Mario upward to the platforms on the left. On the Touch Screen, pull the right side of Luigi’s moustache and watch as the branch on the Stache Tree extends. Grab Mario with the branch, then extend the branch even further, stretching it like an elastic band—the further the branch is extended, the further Mario will travel through the air. When you’re ready to launch Mario, release Luigi’s moustache on the Touch Screen. This causes Mario to fly through the air toward the platforms on the left. Feel free to experiment with this Luiginary Stache Tree before advancing into the next room. Instead of launching Mario through the air, the left branch can be used to simply pick up Mario and place him on one of the upper platforms on the left. Once you’re on one of the upper left platforms, press followed by to recall Dreamy Luigi from the Luiginary Work.

B

This room offers more opportunities to test out the Luiginary Stache Tree. When you’re not fighting Drombas and Storches, use the Luiginary Stache Trees to reach the upper-level platforms in this room to retrieve coins and strike ? Blocks. When you’re finishing exploring, exit on the left side of the room. There’s no need to recall Dreamy Luigi before exiting—there are more Luiginary Stache Trees in the next room.

C

Once again, make use of the Luiginary Stache Trees here to advance upward through this room, launching Mario toward the upper-level platforms. There are also a couple of moving platforms here you must negotiate to reach the top. Strike the Event Block in the upper-right corner of the room to extend a bridge leading to the next area.

D

One nightmare chunk is visible upon entering this room. But Dreambert warns that the soul of the Pi’illo trapped here is encased within multiple nightmare chunks—you must break them all to set the Pi’illo free! Stand beneath the first nightmare chunk and strike it repeatedly to break it. The number of nightmare chunks yet to be broken appears in the bottom right of the screen, serving as a handy indicator of your progress—there are six more chunks remaining.

After breaking the first chunk, use the Luiginary Stache Trees to launch Mario at the next cluster of six chunks. Simply making contact with these chunks causes them to explode. So experiment with different angles when extending the branches of the tree to send Mario flying directly into the cluster of nightmare chunks. After successfully breaking all six nightmare chunks, the first Pi’illo Folk is freed! The Pi’illo is grateful for your help and agrees to send you back to the real world.

Back in the real world, the rescued Pi’illo has no information on Peach’s whereabouts. But the Pi’illo suggests checking with Eldream, the Pi’illo elder. Eldream might be able to help because his mind holds all that is known of the dream world. The Pi’illo senses that Eldream is located somewhere south of here—perhaps in Mushrise Park? Dreambert suggests heading directly for Mushrise Park. But you need to find a way out of this subterranean area beneath Pi’illo Castle first. This prompts Dreambert to open a stone door to the north. The passage beyond leads back to the surface.

Advance through this passage, battling Bloatulas along the way. There are also a few ? Blocks here, containing items and coins. Along the way you encounter another purple pillow. Interact with it to enter the dream world once again.

Dream World (B)

A

Dreambert senses four nightmare chunks in this dream world. But as you enter this room, the entrance and exit are sealed. As instructed by Dreambert, use another Luiginary Work to escape—press followed by to make Dreamy Luigi one with the new Luiginary Work in the background. Next, touch Luigi’s nose on the Touch Screen to make him sneeze. This Sneeze Wind creates a wind gust in the dream world, causing objects in the background to move to the foreground, including the nearby ? Block. Use the Sneeze Wind again to blow an Event Block to the foreground. Striking the Event Block opens blocked doorways, allowing you to proceed. Enter the room on the left.

B

In this room, use the Sneeze Wind Luiginary Work again to blow more blocks to the foreground. The first ? Block you encounter allows you to reach one of the nightmare chunks—break it! Next, continue upward until you encounter five connected ? Blocks near the top of the room. After striking the five ? Blocks, use them to reach the upper area. Here you can jump up and smash the remaining three nightmare chunks, freeing yet another Pi’illo.

The newly freed Pi’illo Folk joins Mario and Luigi back in the real world, but has no news of Princess Peach’s whereabouts. Dreambert takes a moment to reveal how the Pi’illos became trapped in nightmare chunks long ago. The Pi’illos were blessed with the ability to travel in and out of the dream world. On the island there existed two stones: the Dream Stone and Dark Stone. The Dream Stone was formed of happy dreams while the Dark Stone was a solid manifestation of nightmares. The Pi’illos were charged with keeping both stones safe. But the Pi’illos grew lax and one day the bat king, Antasma, stole the Dark Stone seeking to fulfill his own wishes. The Pi’illo fought and cornered Antasma. But just as he was to be imprisoned in the dream world, Antasma shattered the Dark Stone causing a black rain of nightmare chunks to fall all over Pi’illo Island. As the Pi’illo were exposed to the chunks they became petrified. Dreambert feels the Pi’illo Kingdom can rise again if the remaining Pi’illos can be rescued. Now that he knows the whole story, Mario fears that it is Antasma who has captured Princess Peach.

Following the conversation with Dreambert, speak with the rescued Pi’illo to get a boost up to the ledge to the west. Rescued Pi’illos can come in handy for such steep jumps. Simply talk to them to get a boost. Strike the Bros. Block nearby, then use Mario and Luigi to strike the M and L Blocks that appear above before heading south into the next area.

Underground Escape

Engage the Bloatulas here while working your way to the south side of this room. There are a few blocks along the way, so don’t forget to strike them. On the south side of the room, another Pi’illo can be found on the floor. Enter the dream world to stage another rescue.

Dream World (C)

A

Upon entering the dream world, the one and only nightmare chunk can be seen nearby—but there’s no way to break this massive chunk. Instead, take the moving platform upward and then exit on the right side of the room.

B

Advance to this room, battling Drombas and Storches along the way. When you see two long rows of ? Blocks in the background, use the Sneeze Wind Luiginary Work to push these blocks forward. After striking the blocks to retrieve coins, jump atop the blocks and move left, toward the room’s lower exit.

C

By moving along the lower level of the previous room you’re able to return to the first room. Here you can use another Sneeze Wind to knock away the large stone blocks encasing the nightmare chunk. Once the blocks are gone, maneuver Mario beneath the chunk and jump repeatedly to break it. This frees yet another Pi’illo!

Back in the real world, the newly freed Pi’illo has no new information about Princess Peach. But after Starlow mentions the Princess was carried underground, the Pi’illo suggests Antasma may have taken Peach to Dream’s Deep. Dreambert seems surprised that Dream’s Deep even exists. The freed Pi’illo suggests talking to Eldream for more information on Dream’s Deep. It’s time to head to Mushrise Park and find Eldream. Following the conversation, speak to the Pi’illo to get a boost up to the ledge to the east. This gives Mario and Luigi access to a green pipe leading back up to the surface. But before jumping to the right, jump to the left to access a ? Block and Random Block. Once you’ve struck both blocks, return to the Pi’illo and jump to the right, toward the green pipe—there’s another ? Block hidden behind the pipe. Walk into the pipe to return to the surface.

Mario and Luigi emerge from the underground on the south side of the bridge that collapsed earlier. Drop down from the pipe and head south to enter Mushrise Park.