Chapter 3: Near the crossroads

Mario and Luigi caught a cab to the Mushroom Kingdom Palace. As they approached, the red topped white castle loomed in their sights. Mario gaped at the sight, despite seeing the castle so many times. The cab dropped Mario out in front of the castle. Luigi paid the driver and the two plumber brothers walked through the castle courtyard. A guard Toad stood by the castle door as the brothers drew near.

"Hey Mario!" The Toad greeted Mario happily. "The Princess awaits you in the audience chamber."
"Okay. Thanks." Mario answered.

Mario entered the castle. It was always extravagant and beautiful. There were two large paintings of the sun on the ceiling and floor. Doors surrounded the carpeted room. Mario and Luigi entered the audience chamber.

"Mario. Hello." A soft voice greeted as the plumbers entered the room..
"Hey Peach." Mario responded back. He clapped his hands over his mouth realizing his mistake. He eased himself after realizing that the old brown spotted Toad retainer, Toadsworth was nowhere in sight.
"Don't worry, Mario. Toadsworth is taking a nap." Peach said laughing in her sweet high pitched yet soothing voice. "How are you doing today, Mario?" Luigi adjusted his cap nervously. Peach gave a slight blush. "You too Luigi."
"Good." Luigi said peering at his older brother. Mario was too flustered to talk. He sometimes would zone out in the presence of Peach. She was simply beautiful. Her long blond hair extended well beyond her shoulders which Mario seemed to focus on. His eyes outlined her shapely body, covered in her long pink dress that reaches her small feet. His big blue eyes met her glassy cerulean eyes for a moment, which broke him from his trance. Peach winced a little before continuing.

"I have news." She said cheerfully shaking off that awkward moment. "As you know, after that Cackaletta fiasco, Mushroom-Beanbean relations have gone much better. We may be on the verge of a permeant alliance if this keeps up. This may be the final straw." Peach pulled out a scroll showing a sparkling bean shaped jewel. "The Beanstone. Queen Bean has finished a necklace for her size. She favors small jewels. The Beanstone is perfect for this. Manufactured from our finest smiths, this will be the offering that will put us in good terms with Beanbean."

The two plumbers took in the information with an the presence of confusion. "So what does this have to do us?" Luigi finally inquired.
"I'm glad you asked." Peach said clapping her pure white gloved hands together. "The jewel will be delivered to the castle tomorrow. For security purposes, it'll need to stay here overnight. This item is very important, so it will draw attention, particularly, thieves may be after it. Bowser has proven to be able to overcome our Toad defenses with ease. We can't afford to lose this jewel." She paused looking eagerly at the brothers "Security will need to be enhanced to ensure it isn't stolen. Daisy and I will be there to help... you're allowed there too. So..."

Mario laughed confirming his already obvious answer. "Of course." Luigi said smiling probably at the idea of Daisy being there.

"Good." Peach replied. She playfully put her hand at her mouth and whispered loudly "It'll be something of a sleep over!"

Mario and Luigi headed back after hearing the news. Immediately they began packing their clothes. The two brothers didn't even speak. Mario was finally going to be able to spend time with Peach. Luigi was most excited about seeing Daisy again. He had sent her a letter complementing her skills in Tennis and a little on her beauty recently, but never got a reply. Both brothers looked at the now night sky from their respective windows, in wonder of what the next day will bring.

"Lower Kirby!" Waddle Dee cried as he and Kirby rode the blue and white bird-shaped flying device.
"Sorry, Dee" Kirby lied in his fun "the Wing star is meant for high flying. I can't help it!"
"I think I'm gonna be sick..."
"Stop your babying!"
"Look! It's Dedede!"

Sure enough, the piloting pair peered down below to see Dedede's car eating through the bushes in it's way. Kirby began descending. "What are you thinking!!" Waddle Dee wailed.
"Well, I have to see if I have to stop Dedede. If I don't find out now, he may be up to something and I may be too late to stop him." Kirby said cooly
"So you're going to ask him!?"
"Sure. Why not?"

Kirby was now next to the driving blue penguin. "Heeeey!" He said waving. Dedede peered over to the pink Warpstar Warrior.
"Hello officer." He said. Escargoon, who was next to him sadly put his hand on his face in shame. "Wait... Kirby!"
"Hiiiiiiiii!" Kirby taunted obnoxiously. "Seriously though 3D, are you planning some evil plot? Anything I need to know about? Please tell me now, I hear there is a new watermelon harvest soon so I'm..."
"None of your beeswax!" Dedede yelled. He shoved his hand in his seat cushion and pulled out a gun. Letting go of the wheel, he began wildly firing at Kirby. Kirby smoothly piloted his Air Ride machine away from the shots.

"Darn you!" Dedede spat, shooting faster and crazier than before.
"Your majesty, caaalm down!" Escargoon screamed desperately grabbing for the wheel.
"Kirby, watch out!" Waddle warned. Kirby looked away from Dedede to narrowly dodge a incoming tree.
"Gotcha!" Dedede laughed as he nailed Kirby with his iron ball bullet. At that moment, Dedede's car swerved into the same tree Kirby dodged. What resulted was a blinding crash. The car did not run straight into the tree, but the king's effort to turn made the car tumble across the grass of Dreamland. Dedede's trunk flew open and it's contents poured out. As his car tumbled around, it's passengers flew out as well. Kirby's Air Ride machine lost control, and the two round Dreamlanders sailed from it as a result. Kirby struggled to take in some air to gain control, but found the large posterior of Dedede descending. A second later, Kirby was blacked out.

He awoke in a cramped place. He felt as if he were stuffed. In a bag. He began struggling against the seemingly plastic barrier around him. His struggle came fruition as the creampuff manage to unzip the top of the plastic. It was a bag! Kirby freed himself, but quickly found himself launched upward into a ceiling from turbulence.

"Where am I?" Kirby said, rubbing his head. He peered around to see large underwear with Dedede's emblem on it. "Is this...the luggage storage?" He walked to a hatch and forced it open.. Kirby now surveyed the room. His little eyes focused on the small circular windows which depicted clouds in the dark night sky. Surprised, Kirby ran to the window and pressed his face against it. This aircraft Kirby unconsciously boarded was high above the soil of Dreamland. And going higher.

"Kirby!" A familiar voice exclaimed. Waddle Dee approached from behind him. "So you managed to free yourself from the baggage? Sorry I couldn't find you."
"It's okay. Where is this plane going? And how did I get here?" Kirby replied.
"Well after the crash, everyone but lazy ol' you regained consciousness." Waddle Dee began. "I managed to uh, stake out the scene and spy on Dedede." Kirby narrowed his eyes in suspicion im response to his friend's tale. "A-anyway," Waddle Dee continued noticing Kirby's glare. "They cleaned up since their luggage in the trunk popped open. Dedede probably mistook you for a ball and packed you. I snuck on board this airplane to find you. Though I have no idea where we a- Kirby look! Stars!"

Kirby turned back to the window witness the sight of stars. Kirby was perplexed. "Wait, so a plane took off to space? Where the heck are we going?" Kirby wondered staring out the small circular viewport.
"I dunno." Waddle Dee replied.
"Well, let's find out!" Kirby ran to a door at the far end of a room.
"Wait Kirby, no! Didn't you learn from last time! Darn it!" Waddle Dee chased his friend.

"Sire, we're descending." Escargoon reported.
"Good." The king replied. "It won't be long now. I'll see Bowsa again soon. I wonder if he still has that thing for blondes..."
"I wonder if you still have that thing for overweight Cappies... "
"You say something?"
"No sire."
"Fat Cappies?! That's hilarious!" A familiar voice laughed.
Dedede turned. "You!" He cried pointing in Kirby's direction.
"Hiiiiiii!"
"You annoying little jerk!!! Escargoon! Pilot this plane to our destination! I'll handle this!"
"Bring it!"

Dedede grabbed his hammer with the familiar star insignia on it. Hoisting it over his shoulder, he charged at Kirby. Kirby bent low to the ground and stuck his flap-like arms out. Dedede recognized Kirby's battle stance. The king swung his hammer vertically to crush Kirby, and scored a direct hit. At least he thought so. Upon lifting it, he saw Kirby was using his ability to flatten himself to nullify the blow. The pink warrior popped back into his normal form and flung himself toward the kings face. Kirby spun and kicked Dedede in the face. Dedede stumbled back then swung his hammer horizontally before Kirby landed and knocked him away.

"Gah, you've gotten better, loser king!" Kirby jeered, somersaulting back into his battle stance. Dedede wasted no time on compliments as he decked Kirby again with another swing of his hammer. Kirby somersaulted into a door.
"Hey puffball, your strict sleep regime is really doing a lot for your fighting skills, eh?" Dedede tantalized. Kirby gritted and stood. Dedede jumped in the air, and tried to press his bottom on Kirby as an attack. Kirby, however took that chance to roll out of the way. The small eyes of the star warrior darted about the room, looking for an object to help him. Kirby spotted a small RC car.

"What a loser." Kirby grumbled before opening his mouth. Far from it's regular small size, Kirby's mouth expanded to a size that would be near large enough to be his entire face. He inhaled which caused the car, and nothing else, to be sucked in Kirby's mouth.
"Oh no you don't!" Dedede cried running at Kirby with hammer up. Dedede's eyes were soon averted from Kirby to the floor. He was tripped. He turned his head with fire in his eyes to see the fleeing friend of Kirby. Before giving chase, he was drawn to Kirby's transformation. In a star shaped flash, Kirby gained a backwards red cap. He was Wheel Kirby!

"How do ya like me now!" Kirby declared as he sprang in the air. He popped into the form of a star shaped wheel and rolled toward Dedede.
"Augh!" Dedede shrieked sidestepping Kirby. The wheel turned back into Kirby after popping back into the air. Kirby turned in mid-air and wheeled toward Dedede again. Dedede evaded him again.

"Sire, we're in Mushroom Kingdom airspace." Escargoon reported in a unusually calm tone.
"Good!" Dedede replied. He kept his eyes on Kirby. Kirby charged toward him again, and Dedede eluded him, but as soon as the king did, Kirby popped from his form, and changed direction in the air again. Dedede fell back in surprise. Kirby now lurched toward him. Dedede in panic, tried to pull himself to his feet. He grabbed a latch on the plane which opened the door to the plane. Kirby sailed right through it."Hahahahaha! Have a nice trip Kirby! Hope you land on a Piranha plant!" Dedede cackled to his falling foe.

Kirby popped from his wheel form to check his position. "Huh?" Kirby uttered lightly seeing the night sky. He realized he was falling. "Ahhhhh!"

Kirby continued plummeting. The ground became visible. "The ground looks weird..." Kirby thought. It was brown on the sides with a long black streak between it and a yellow dot in the middle. Kirby began rapidly descending toward the dot. He struggled to gulp in some air to soften the landing.

Plop! Kirby landed on the yellow dot. "Urgh..." he mumbled after the rough landing. The dot he landed on seemed to shift.

"Who threw that piece of gum at me?" A gruff voice said.