Two Hearts, Two Stars.
The Brightest Light Creates the Darkest Shadow.
The Darkest Shadow Creates the Brightest Light.
Struggle Brings Chaos.
Resolve Brings Peace.
Thunder and Fire Will Rain Down From the Crying Sky and the World Shall Split in Twain.
Spilled Blood of the Innocent Gives Rise to Darkness.
Doubted Strength Weakens the Light.
Untapped Power Shall Awaken From the Darkness and Smother the Exerted Light.
Only the Strongest Bonds of the Heart Can Withstand the Darkness and Restore the Light.
One Heart, Two Stars.
Two Hearts Beat as One.
A night of celebration and tradition adorned the Mushroom Kingdom and its denizens. A comet that passes over the Mushroom Kingdom once every one thousand years is set to grace the Kingdom with its glorious presence. With each passing the comet passes ever closer to the planet, which birthed a long forgotten prophecy that was locked away only for royal eyes to witness.
Chroniclers of the Mushroom Kingdom's history have debated over the true appearance of the comet for eras. Some say the comet shines in a brilliant ruby red that flashes white, others claimed to have seen the comet shine with a vibrant green that flickers in and out of sight as if dipping into shadows. The first Chronicler declared that the comet flashed between red and green while exuding brilliant light and deep shadow. It was decided that on this night the debate would be settled once and for all, and the comet would finally be given an appropriate title.
In the Royal Garden of Peach's Castle; a Garden in full bloom of roses, orchids, lilies and tulips that covered the grounds with a cascading flow of color and aroma. In the center of the Garden, sitting on the edge of the marble fountain and beneath the statue of the late Queen Orchid, Princess Peach sat with her two dearest friends, Mario and Luigi, at her sides.
Toadsworth, the loyal royal Ward, walked toward the fountain with cane in hand and stood proudly in front of the Princess. "Your Highness the festivities are a grand success, the citizens are over joyed and ready to watch the comet!"
"That's wonderful, Toadsworth!" Peach was elated to know her people were happy. "When do you predict the comet will appear?"
Mario and Luigi, who had turned to look at Toadsworth when he initially arrived, craned their necks as they eagerly awaited his answer.
"Within the hour, I suppose." Toadsworth replied with an heir of confidence in his voice as turned his gaze upward. "I also predict that the comet will pass by so close that the dark night sky will light up with a beautiful aura of cosmic energy!"
Peach smiled with excitement. "I can't wait to see it!"
Toadsworth nodded with his own composed form of excitement. "Neither can I, my dear. All of our past Chroniclers have described the comet as a beauty that is beyond anything that can be found on the earth in which we tread." He took a long, solemn look at the night sky before turning on his heel. "And I pray the predictions of the past Chroniclers fail to hold true... on this night."
Mario shrugged his shoulders in a somewhat skeptical manner at Toadsworth's comments as he turned his attention back to the night sky overhead. Luigi took off his green cap, ran his fingers through his brown hair and sighed in a relaxed manner after replacing his cap. He too focused on the starry sky above.
"Wow, so many stars tonight." Luigi commented with genuine awe at the natural site in the sky. "I wonder how many other comets are up there, right now..."
Mario silently shook his head, his eyes never leaving the stars. "I'm not sure, Weeg. Probably millions!"
Peach folded her hands as she anxiously awaited the comet's arrival. Several smaller shooting stars danced across the night, each star a different color and last for only seconds at a time. Rainbow hued tears fell from the black sky, like the heavens themselves were weeping at the hypnotically beautiful sight.
Mario glanced over at Peach and discreetly slipped his hand closer to hers. "Might I ask how Toadsworth knows so much about the comet?" His attempt to make conversation with the lovely princess was quite obvious, but no one mentioned it.
"Toadsworth's ancestors were the original Chroniclers of the Mushroom Kingdom." She answered and turned to Mario, her hands unfolding and resting on the edge of the fountain as she braced herself upward with anticipation. "He's very proud of his lineage and has studied the past Chronicler's documents thoroughly."
"Oh," Mario casually pushed his hand closer to Peach's. "I see..."
Luigi could see Mario flirting with Peach from the corner of his eye. Sighing he muttered to himself. "Too bad Daisy has to miss this..."
Peach grinned at Luigi's comment and looked toward the green clad brother. "I'm sure she'd be here is she could."
"Yeah, I guess." Luigi pulled his green cap down over his eyes in an attempt to conceal his betraying emotions as he stared at the stars above.
Mario caught the tone of Luigi's voice and turned his attention to his little brother. "Luigi, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Luigi fought to keep his tone steady. "Just thinking out loud, that's all."
Before Mario could press the matter further he felt Peach's hand on his shoulder as she pointed to the night sky with her free hand. "Look! The comet!"
In the distance an orb of bright light quickly filled the dark sky as it flew closer and closer to toward the Mushroom Kingdom. The orb grew in size and increased in brightness as it flew closer and faster toward the world!
"It's beautiful..." Peach almost whispered as she stared in awe.
Mario put his hand over top Peach's, which was still resting on his shoulder in a lax grip. Luigi glanced over at Mario and Peach and frowned with a twinge of jealousy in his gut.
The comet raced over the Mushroom Kingdom at an incredible speed. It's color glimmering in a turbulent flash of multiple colors, shifting seamlessly from one vibrant color to the next. Clouds of fog and smoke began building in the sky which darkened the comet, but failed to shroud it from sight.
Luigi suddenly felt uneasy. He put his hand on the edge of the fountain and felt vibrations building in strength beneath his palm. "Do you feel that?" The vibrations soon transitioned into violent tremors that shook the entire Mushroom Kingdom.
"What's happening?" Peach asked as the tremors rattled the kingdom and caused Toads to panic. "Is it the comet?!"
A high pitched shriek filled the air as the clouds turned to smoke and the comet hurtled toward the earth, a long stream of multicolored star dust followed its thunderous descent.
As the comet roared toward the planet the tremors shifted into a single violent earthquake that caused buildings to collapse, trees to bend and topple and the surrounding Dark Mountains to crumble.
Falling from the fountain and to the ground Mario laid over Peach in an attempt to shield her from falling debris as the trio wrapped their hands over their heads and shut their eyes in fear.
A bright flash of bright fire and the sound of unnaturally loud thunder traveled through the Mushroom Kingdom as the comet collided with the planet, creating a massive crater near the top of Dark Mountain peak.
Huddled together on the shaking ground the three heroes looked up toward the mountain and watched in awe as black smoke, red embers, green sparks and ominous howls rose from the damaged mountain peak. Screams of terror from the witnessing Toads only gave the site a further sense of dread and much needed hesitation after the catastrophic event.
"Is... Is everyone, alright?" Mario asked wearily as he slowly rose from the ground and offered Peach his hand.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Peach answered as she put her trembling hand in Mario's.
Luigi stood up on shaky legs and brushed the dirt from his overalls. "I think so. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Mario confirmed as he and Peach stood beside Luigi in front of the cracked and leaking fountain. "But what was that?" He pointed toward the mountain. "Was that the comet or did something else happen up there?"
Toadsworth approached with a 'harrumph', his clothing dirty and his usual stoic mannerism rattled. "I'm afraid that the comet marks the beginning..." He bowed his head mournfully.
"Beginning?" Peach was intrigued by the Ward's cryptic reply. "Beginning of what?"
Toadsworth lifted his head and locked eyes with the Princess. "The prophecy."
Mario and Luigi exchanged fearful glances before looking back toward Toadsworth and Peach.
"Toadsworth, what is happening?" Peach asked determinedly.
"Come." Toadsworth motioned toward the Castle with his cane. "There is something you must see, my dear. Something I had hoped you would never have to bear during your rule."
Peach looked toward Toad Town, unsure if she should leave her people during this moment of chaos, but a warm hand on his arm coaxed her to follow the Ward. "Mario, Luigi, would you come with me?"
The brothers looked at each other once again and nodded. Walking side by side the heroic duo followed the princess and Ward through the Garden and toward the damaged, but still standing regal Castle in the distance.
...to be continued...