I do not own Mario, nor any other 8-bit sprites. All I have is this lousy T-shirt.
It was rare for Toads to wander outside the confines of Toad Town in the darkest of nights. Almost unheard of, really- generations of ghost stories passed down to the youngest of Toads saw to that. Each one was just an echo of the original with some minor differences, rather like a drawn-out 'Chinese whispers.' Yet each one always remained equally dismal in tone, spooking away any notions of venturing out into the gloom.
At least, it generally did. Regrettably for Mucho, however, he was not so easily fazed. In fact, trotting out into the night, Boos and Underhands were the last things on his mind. Even if they did exist, why should they care for a fun guy like him, when a much less common sight was grazing the skies? For tonight, a cascade of motley stars were dancing across the clear black expanse.
Pretty enough, and rare too.
It was the liveliest miracle in nature, the sort of thing that'd demand wars would pause to take it in, colour by shining colour. Not that something like that ever happened. These stars were seen once every hundred years, only ever appreciated by so very few. Even among his star-fanatic friends, even within the combined knowledge of Peach's Castle's dwellers, the event was unknown, eluding even their most obscure myths and tales. Mucho, however, was the bearer of a long, long family secret. His great grandad, and his great grandad, and another great grandad before him...
Mucho's father, Gruuch, had almost broken down as he unleashed the knowledge onto him.
"Ah, if only I could go, my son," sighed Gruuch at the time, "but I know my calling. I've a role to hold. The princess needs her guards at hand, and I'd never let myself go if she and my allies were imperilled whilst I sat stargazing. No, son, I'm not that lucky. Us born with halfway to go till the event never have been."
His eyes shone then, and Mucho reflected that perhaps not even the falling stars would sparkle so bright. "This, my son, is your gift. Enjoy it for me, kiddo. Enjoy it for me."
And, as Mucho sat on his own, with only old Mushroom Kingdom relics for company, he didn't have any difficulty keeping his father's wishes. The night was beautiful. Beyond anything that tramped around in the kingdom below, even putting Peach's Castle to shame.
The wonder had been observed now for many generations back; yet, so very little was understood about it. Yes, an order- an impossible order- for the star fall had gradually been recorded over time, which the stars seemingly obeyed on every return. But that was it. Nobody knew why they kept returning. Nobody knew what the patterns had meant.
And nobody could ever guess at why, only from these ruins, could these celestial bodies be seen.
Then again, perhaps it was best this way- who wants to know everything? Mucho's family had always contented themselves, that even if they didn't comprehend, as least they were aware. At least they could see them, as lustrous blue bodies descended, followed by- what was it again? Mucho shifted away from his antiquated telescope, checking his ancestor's notes. Ah! Green. Yes, green balls of light, illuminating their sky for their brief seven seconds, and then purple and-
Except they didn't. Mucho frowned. This isn't right. From what he could read, at this point, purple stars should be sinking gently down, disappearing abruptly into the forests below.
Not yellow. Not at this speed. They weren't, according to the ancestors, due for another few minutes yet. Mucho pondered for a second, then dismissed his curiosity. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; not some accurate study of a scientific phenomenon. His ancestors would have been too busy sitting, gawking, to note every detail exactly as seen. And he should be doing the same, not scrutinising archaic recordings from the past.
Peering again through his telescope, Mucho watched as the yellow stars passed, and onto the violet-
White. Mucho's elders must have been really awestruck. Afterwards, came orange-
Black. Now Mucho was really disturbed. There was no mention of any black shooting stars anywhere in his notes. In fact, there wasn't any mention of black stars among his social circles either. Not anywhere in the Kingdom. He'd been told about Ztars, of course- and had one foisted upon him by a notorious bully during his school days- but, somehow, Mucho could sense these were a far graver issue.
The black stars were still tumbling. How did his family neglect to mention this, of all things? His dilated right eye was almost glued to the looking glass, but he was afraid to believe what it revealed. He couldn't describe what it was about them that put his nerves on end; but other people wouldn't have been clueless anyway. The dread they emanated was too potent to miss.
And then Mucho's heart stopped. He stepped, fearfully, away from his telescope and rubbed his eyes, pinched his cheeks in a painful grip, then slowly moved back to his equipment.
It had stopped. The stars. The stars had halted, inexplicably, right in their tracks, like a video being paused on a click. Even their long stretching trails remained where they were, neither expanding or fading. As if time had just ceased.
At this point, Mucho knew he should run. Run and spread the news. Darn centuries of tradition; this sort of happening just didn't... happen. And, if it did, then something very serious was going on. He turned on his heels, pushed down his spotted cap and rushed back to Toad Town, back to comfort and familiarity.
He couldn't. Mucho's legs stayed on the spot, and even the blood in his legs felt like they had ended their journey. He was petrified now. This must be some sort of nightmare... Mucho tried again to pinch his flesh- maybe I didn't try hard enough? he hoped- but even his arms and littlest fingers were resolutely stuck mid-stride. The gaze of his frantic eyes dashed to the now useless limbs. Or, they would have done- but, afraid and alone in an outre moment, not even his eyes would help him now.
The black stars regained their motion again, but now, they weren't crashing haphazardly towards the earth at all. They were going in a definite direction. Towards Mucho.
Mucho, facing towards the tall forest before him, never saw this terror soaring towards him. His mouth hung steadfast in a noiseless scream as the distance between them diminished.
Mucho wouldn't be stargazing again anytime soon.
Hello! So... {awkward conversationalist} this is practically my first published attempt at fiction making (I procrastinate. So many trashed ideas...). Don't think this is to ask you to be gentle on me- actually, I would prefer if you beat the life and soul out of this part (if it has any at all!) and give some constructive criticism! I know for fact that I'm lacking in something, and if you could highlight my problems, that would really help. Anyhow, I plan to make this a tale decent in length, and it won't all be creepy going-ons like here, so don't let the tone put you off just yet!
