 One day, Princess Toadstool, or Peach, is on a trip to Rougeport, the town of pirates, theives, and other assorted criminals. Peach s trusted caretaker Toadsworth is, of course, making sure she stays out of trouble-but he is also not letting her have any fun. So she sneaks away while she is not looking at and a street vendor catches her eye. The mysterious vender tells her that he has a box that only a purehearted person can open, and inside is the key to vast treasure! Peach succeeds in opening the box, which contains a map. She sends the map and a letter to Mario...but by the time he gets to Rougeport, Peach is gone! Mario begins to search for her, and eventually discovers that the map can lead to the seven Crystal Stars-the mystical keys to opening a door far beneath Rougeport that is said to contain the greatest treasure in the world-The Thousand-Year Door! Mario then sets off to gather the stars, and find Peach. Along the way, he meets new friends and makes new enemies-all in his quest to open the Thousand-Year Door!