Hey guys, I'm back! A quick note is that, since Mario doesn't talk much, he's mainly going to speak Italian. Luigi can speak both Italian and English fluently, though, since he spoke English in the Galaxy games.

Well, then… here we go!

The sky sparkled above the Mushroom Kingdom as small, multicolored pieces of stars raining down from the heavens. It was the night of the Star Festival, and on the streets of Toad Town, young Toad children ran around, laughing and screaming as they competed to collect the most star bits. One Toad had gathered quite the collection, and with a huge smile on his face, held up a large basket of the glowing objects, making his victory known to anyone who could see.

On a hillside, four friends overlooked the scenery. Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy sat, having a picnic, laughing and reminiscing on old times. They stared up at the sky, awaiting the arrival of the comet. Rosalina used to only pass the Mushroom Kingdom every 100 years, but ever since she had made some friends on Earth, she stopped once every year to say hello.

"Look!" Peach said. Everyone gazed up, and saw the Comet Observatory fly overhead, slowing to a stop. The huge space station glittered in the night sky, illuminating the lake it had stopped over. Lumas flew about it, laughing and catching their favorite treat, star bits, as they fell from the sky.

"Mario!" said a scratchy, high pitched voice. Captain Toad was flying down on the Starshroom, waving at Mario and friends. "Hey, everyone! All aboard! We'll take ya straight to the Observatory!"

Meanwhile, a shadowy figure approached Peach's Castle. He mumbled to himself as he neared the doors, where two Toads stood guard, each holding a spear. "Sorry," one began, "but no one's allowed in here without…" but he was cut short by a rock thrown by the short trespasser, which hit him square on the forehead. As he fell forward, the hooded figure rushed to his spear, and smacked the tail end of it into the other guard, knocking him off the side of the bridge, into the moat below. The stranger than dropped the spear and opened the double doors.

"Please still be being here," he said. The castle was mainly deserted, due to the festival, but that didn't stop him from being careful as he searched around. "Fawful will be needing you… Please do not have had the leaving…"

As he opened another door, however, he found what he had been looking for; an odd shaped helmet and a small saucer, lying in a room full of other assorted junk. He rushed over and put the helmet on his head, then jumped on the saucer. It activated, and he took off, out of Peach's Castle, toward the shining Observatory.

"Mario, how truly great it is to see you again." Rosalina smiled as everyone piled out of the Starshroom. "And welcome to all your friends. I am Rosalina, guardian of the Lumas, and overseer of this Observatory."

"It's nice to meet you," Daisy said. "You run this whole place?"

"Yes," Rosalina replied. "This entire place is my responsibility."

"Wow," Peach said. "It's very impressive."

"Yeah," Luigi said, "I got lost here once or twice…"

Rosalina smiled. "Would you all like a tour? We've done a little remodeling since you and Mario last came here."

"Pulito," Mario said. "Let's-a go!"

While our happy group of heroes began their little tour, Fawful's hooded figure approached the miniature sun that sat at the middle of the Observatory. It was strange; it felt warm, but not hot. He resisted the urge to reach out and touch it. Instead, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a collection of wires, cans, and assorted junk. He had taken daily trips to the junkyard and worked long, sleepless nights to get this sloppy prototype complete. He was hoping he'd have a chance to improve it, but he couldn't wait. It was now or never.

"Now," he whispered to himself, "Fawful's time comes, like the expiration of the yogurt of this kingdom… soon… I WILL HAVE VENGEANCE!"

That's it! Hope you liked it. I'll try to have Chapter 3 up in a week or two. Until then, don't forget to have chortles!