CHAPTER 2

THE OBSERVATORY

It was as if the floodgates had given way when the Starshroom-M1 landed, and the doors swung open. There were only ten Toad-Fighters per ship, but each well-trained warrior fought for the common good with a fiery passion.

Captain Toad followed up the rear, bashing the occasional Dry Bones, and advancing the Toad offensive. Though it was a futile battle because of the Dry Bones battleship firing on the Observatory from the air.

The Starshrooms had no artillery due to them being designed for exploration of new galaxies, though the aerial Toad-Fighters were dropping red bob-bombs. The bombs were less to make damage than to draw their fire.

Rosalina and her Black Luma was holding nearly thirty boos in place with a stare in the center of the Observatory. Captain Toad wait for the Toad front to reach her position to speak with her. She didn't dare take her eyes off of the boos, but she sensed the Toad who had stopped near her was of importance.

"And who might you be, little Toad?" The fair lady questioned. Though in the middle of a fearsome battle, she was in the eye of the storm. She was completely calm. Red was fascinated.

"You're in danger here, we need to move." Captain Toad warned. "Captain Fungus is arriving with a Battleship any minute now, but we need you to move out of the way so we can clear the area." Rosalina smiled gently.

"I would tag along with you, dear, but you see… I'm a bit tied up at the moment." Captain Toad turned around to see the growing onslaught of boos being kept in check by her angelic stare. "How about I'll meet you in the Kitchen. Polaris will lead you there. Polari? Be a dear and take…" Her voice trailed off. Even a celestial being was plagued by not knowing her company's name.

"I'm Captain Toad, but my friends call me Red." Rosalina, unblinking, swished her wand through the air. A small warp star appeared beside them.

"Take this to the Kitchen, Captain, I'll meet you here when I'm done with these foul creatures." She instructed. Red nodded and jumped into the warp star along with the small black Luma. The two floated uncomfortably for a few seconds before the star convulsed, and shot them towards the Kitchen.

When they landed, they saw dry bones trying to break through into the boarded up front door.

"We have to save them! My brothers and sisters are trapped in there!" Polari urged as the dark Luma floated towards the problem. Captain Toad silently obliged, and followed the eager Luma. He bashed a few of the dry bones off of the staircase as they made their way up to the top.

There were more than a couple dry bones banging on the door of the Kitchen, but thankfully Captain Toad was able to take them by surprise. He hit them all with his hammer, and they all fell apart.

Red threw open the door to reveal a startling amount of Lumas cowering inside the dome.

"Are you guys alright in here?" Captain Toad asked.

"I'm so glad you're safe!" Polari shouted as he quickly floated by Red to a pink Luma and a smaller blue Luma. "I didn't think you made it back from Beach Bowl!" He hugged the small blue Luma.

"I'm going to evacuate all of us to Buoy Base. Everyone is almost here, we just need Mama to join us." The pink Luma told Polari.

"E-Gads! King Boo is confronting Mama!" A random Luma screeched. Everyone diverted their attention to the window where they all saw King Boo and a significantly more amount of boos than when they used the warp star.

"Continue the evacuation to Buoy Base, we'll deal with the boos and save Rosalina." Captain Toad announced triumphantly. The Lumas all turned to him in confusion.

"We can't leave Mama!" The smaller blue Luma exclaimed, clearly about to burst into tears. Polari soothed the small star-child. Polari nodded at Captain Toad.

"I'll get them to safety, Captain." Polari remarked. With a grin, Captain Toad started down the stairs of the Kitchen.

"Oh my, oh my! What do we have here? A lovely lady fit for a crown. Perhaps when I'm done with you, you'll be my queen?" King Boo nefariously suggested. Rosalina frowned in disgust.

"I'd sooner befriend a dry bones than be wed to such a dreadful monster." She told him, raising her wand in protest. King Boo was not pleased.

"If I can't have you, nobody can! EEEEHEEHEEHEEHEEHEEEE!" He maniacally laughed. King Boo disappeared in a blinding flash of light, And Rosalina had to close her eyes. In an instant, all of the Boos had rushed at her while her gaze was broken. Rosalina opened her eyes again as quickly as possibly, but it was ready too late. The boos were upon her.

"Back! Don't touch her!" Captain Toad shouted, jumping in front of Rosalina. He swung his hammer randomly, hoping to scare them back; all the while he stared directly in their direction to keep the ghosts in check. "Get out of here Rosalina!" She smiled.

"Many thanks, Captain Toad, may the stars guide you." She gracefully thanked as she hastily floated into the Terrace to escape.

Though Red acted brave, he was extremely frightened by the ferocious boos. It was only then that he heard his direct-line to the Toadstool begin to beep furiously. He reached into his pocket and pressed the 'answer call' button.

"Red! Get on a Starshroom! It's about to be crazy down there!" Blue Toad shouted through the speaker. The Captain didn't give running a second thought.

The swarm of boos chased him through the Lounge and past the Kitchen. They were gaining on him, as they had no legs to slow them down.

I have to act fast, I'm about to be ghost food! Red worriedly thought. Then he saw it: a Starshroom hovering beside the Observatory. It seemed a bit beat up, but it was flying. Captain Toad decided not to ask questions, and he immediately began preparing to jump off the deck in order to land on it.

Suddenly, he tripped on one of the lowered points in the Observatory flooring. He was doomed. Boos flew in a circle all around him, and he felt himself starting to be damaged by their frightening speeds of swirling.

The Starshroom flew closer, and a single Toad opened the door and began throwing fireballs using a Fire Flower. The boos were repelled by the light and heat, and they all scattered.

Red was nearly unconscious, but he managed to perceive that Blue and Yellow had come to his rescue. It was all a blur from then on, but Red was sure he heard the booms of blue shells ringing louder than King Boo's laser artillery.