Chapter 3: Star Haven Storm

Eldstar gazed around the chamber. The remaining Star Spirits were at their posts, the Star Rod in the center of the rounded chamber, and everything more peaceful then a Bowser-free summer in Toad Town.

Boy, was it getting boring. The only things that broke the never ending silence were stars coming into the Star Sanctuary with the wishes of Pilt's residents below. The only other organic life form in the building was a Star Kid named Twink, who had been an apprentice Star Spirit since the fiasco with Bowser and the Star Rod. His post was a crystal half the size of the regular ones, in between Eldstar and the one on his left, Mamar.

Boy, Eldstar's bored mind thought, I wish something would happen…

Suddenly, the entire building began to quake. Everyone noticed.

I was thinking along the lines of something positive…

Without warning, a Bombshell Bill burst through the ceiling and hit the floor. No one was hurt, but more Bombshells were appearing, and the "hole" effect started to eat up the roof.

"Honorable Star Spirit!" Twink asked as he flew over, "What's going on?!"

The roof gave way and crashed to the floor around the Star Rod, revealing a lava red doomship in the dark sky above.

"Is this Bowser's doing again?" Misstar thought out loud.

A voice pierced the night air in response.

"Bowser? Oh no. It's something much worse…"

Bombshell Bill Blasters were mounted on the sides of the doomship, and they continued to rain the gold bullets through the ceiling, caving in smaller parts of the roof.

"G. O. Commandos!" the voice said, "ATTACK!"

G. O. Commandos? Eldstar thought, The Game Over must be attacking again! One of Peach's recent wishes was that this wouldn't happen. Another G. O. invasion, of course. She never really thought of the Star Sanctuary's roof caving in.

A rope extended from the bottom of the ship and Doopliss, Susan, Bombette, Lord Crump, General Guy, and Dicer began to slide down. Yosie and Spike used their clouds to float down.

The Commandos took their positions surrounding the pedestal that held the Star Rod while Yosie investigated it.

"That was almost too easy! Getting the next set of objects will be a piece of cake."

"It'll be stale cake if you don't tell us what business you have here!" Twink sassed.

"Twink, keep your temper…" Eldstar warned.

"Aww, look," Yosie teased, "The old man is lecturing the baby. Now I will take what I require and be on my way."

He moved his cloud into position approximately ten feet from the Star Rod.

Breathe in, breathe in, breathe in… he willed.

Lakitus have a psychic connection with their cloud, so the cloud began to pull in air.

Breathe fire out, breathe fire out, breathe fire out…

Suddenly, the cloud exhaled a huge jet of burning blue flames. The only damage was the top of Crump's, Doopliss's, and Spike's head got singed; Bombette's fuse was lit and she exploded; and the crystal cover surrounding the Star Rod melted away. It was the last of these three effects that Yosie targeted for.

"The Star Rod!" Twink gasped as Yosie snatched it up.

"Gack ack!" Yosie laughed, "Now what did Bowser do? Oh yeah. He did this!"

He waved the Star Rod and sent out a wave of yellow. However, the Star Sprits remained pretty much unaffected.

"Apparently that's not it… perhaps it's this!"

Another wave of yellow, but nothing.

"Boss, hurry it up…" Dicer warned, "They're looking angry…"

"GOT IT! This is the Star Rod, so I've got to wish for it!" He thought hard about the Star Spirits trapped in cards. "And with that… BAM! It's done!"

Another wave of yellow, and this time it got the job done. The Spirits spun for a bit before being captured in cards and drifting to the floor.

"Third time's the charm." Yosie stuffed the Star Rod in his cloud and pulled out the G. O. Wand. "Magical Magnet!" he cried. The seven Spirit cards flew into his outstretched hand.

"Seven Spirit Stud," he joked as he made sure they were all there. "Let's blow this joint." The rope descended from the G. O. S. Volcano. Yosie and Spike flew up while the rest climbed from the almost deserted chamber.

I say "almost" because Twink had hidden behind his crystal perch since a few seconds before the firing of the first wave. He emerged as soon as the Volcano was out of sight.

"The honorable Star Spirits!" he gasped, "I've got to tell someone! Mario! Peach! Maybe Luigi even!!"

He quickly flew away.