Blumiere was the one who went first.
Not only did he learn how to use a Launch Star, he also learned that when they said "launch" they weren't kidding. Somehow he landed on his feet but didn't break his legs.
He was shortly joined by Timpani and then Bowser. Both declared "oomph!" as they landed on the grassy plain.
Peach floated down her parasol next. Daisy followed soon afterwards, shouting "YEE-HAW!" as she glided through the air with a… hang glider?
Mario and Luigi came last, their landing not fazing them in the least. It's like they started walking before they even reached the ground.
"On we go?" Daisy asked.
Luigi nodded. "Shouldn't be too far… it is the first level, after all."
And so on the group marched, everyone jumping on an enemy they came across. Or hitting them with a hammer, parasol, cane, fire breath, tennis racket, or rocks if it was a spiked enemy. The group had no issues with passing the first level.
"Wow, that went faster than last time," Timpani commented.
"The strength of numbers. It will become harder when we need special abilities to get places," Mario said.
If anyone was going to say anything, they were cut off by a rumble.
Fracktail emerged from underneath the ground where he rested until his duties summoned him.
"Heroes! Welcome!" he roared. "What's this? More of you?"
"Yes, Fracktail. We need to find… something," Timpani frowned, realizing that they had gotten so caught up in saving the worlds, they hadn't figured out what they needed to find.
"A Power Star," Daisy spoke, startling everyone.
"Ah yes… I do believe I have one. Give me a moment to check…"
As Fracktail scanned his systems, a disturbance through space sent prickles down everyone's neck.
"Ho ho ho ho ho…. So you all gather here like ants on a child's school project…" An awfully familiar voice sounded.
Dimentio had arrived. "Ah, but if I let this dragon just give you the Star, it's not any fun, is it? Won't you dance a little for me… especially you, Luigi. Wasn't it fun to go against your brother?"
Dimentio suddenly reappeared and grabbed Luigi's arm.
"Ciao!" he said. But before he could teleport away, a sand wedge stuck him, knocking him away.
"Don't you dare lay another finger on him!" Daisy shouted angrily at the demented jester, golf club brandished. The normally happy princess was downright terrifying, even if the anger was directed at someone else. Luigi shivered, trying to regain himself.
"Ooh, a feisty one. I will enjoy this, then… Ciao!"
This time, Dimentio really did teleport away, but without Luigi in hand.
"Thanks Daisy," Luigi panted, bending over.
"Don't thank me yet…" A gloved hand rested on his back. "We've got another fish to fry."
Fracktail had been sparking and buzzing during the exchange, but everyone had been afraid of losing Luigi so quickly into the adventure, they had failed to notice.
"ATTACK!" the dragon roared before flying into the sky.
"Not again!" Mario groaned before leaping over the attack, stomping on one part of Fracktail before being thrown off. Everyone else followed suit, but it did little to the robotic dragon.
"Blumiere," Timpani caught her husband's attention, "think you can hold him?"
The Count thought about it for a short time. "I believe so but- bleck!" Count Blumiere said as he was tackled to the side by his wife. The tail swung out to one side, driving the dragon to one direction but also managing to knock over Peach, Luigi, and Mario.
Mario, of course, managed to tumble to his feet, as did his brother. Luigi had apparently gotten over his fear of Dimentio now that he had been attacked. Peach picked herself backup delicately.
"He's improved since last time," Mario said, "That was certainly new."
"What is it with your revamped villains?! I swear, this series hardly ever gets new ones!" Timpani complained, picking herself up.
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Daisy replied.
Fracktail moved to chomp Blumiere and Timpani. The Count took notice and his frustration showed on his face.
"Fine!" he said. He pointed his cane at the robot dragon and shouted in a strange language.
The dragon paused, Mario noted, but he waited for it to move so he could attack it without injury.
But it didn't.
Everyone but Timpani looked at Blumiere. The former climbed up on the dragon and removed a piece and began to fiddle with the different parts.
"What's the matter? Did it backfire on me as well?" Blumiere looked at himself.
"All fixed!" his wife shouted from the top of the dragons head, leaping down.
The dragon whirred back to life. Everyone but Timpani and Blumiere got ready to fight again.
"Oh, Heroes! Welcome!" the robot projected. "I must apologize for that… I was quite advanced for the time of the ancients, so they never thought to protect me from magic changing my programming!" He looked at Blumiere and Timpani.
"I must thank your teamwork for repairing me. That was a Stop Spell, no? Very advanced for not using a Stopwatch."
Blumiere tipped his hat down in embarrassment. "Timpani had a plan. I just did what I thought would help."
"Hm… I believe I have items for you." A panel on the dragon's side extended, revealing a few items.
The group approached. "A Power Star!" Daisy exclaimed, picking it up and handing it to Luigi, who put it in his overalls' pocket.
"Why haven't you used magic before?" Bowser inquired as Peach looked at a book and the brothers took some Fire Flowers and passed them out.
Blumiere shrugged. "The only occasion that required it was the kid's game. And it hardly seemed fair to use magic against them to win."
Bowser nodded his head.
"I believe this is for you, then. I can't read a single word in this book," Peach remarked, handing it to the Count.
His eyes widened. "This book… Fracktail, when did you receive this?"
"A few months ago, sir. A strange guy in green said that someone would need this."
Luigi pointed at himself.
"No, he did not look like you… it is strange. I cannot seem to recall much of his image. It was if he was not of this realm."
"Thank you, Fracktail," Peach said, hoping to move the group from their stunned positions.
"Anytime heroes. If you require more aid, feel free to stop by again." And Fracktail dove back into the Earth.
"Well. This was enlightening," Peach said.
"Dimentio is back and is creepy for me," Luigi deadpanned. "Just what I wanted."
"Aw, don't worry sugar, I'll help you against that demented jester!" Daisy proclaimed.
"Thank you, Daisy. That leads me to a question."
"Shoot."
"How'd you know it was a Star we were looking for?"
"The first line in Merlon's poem thing. As the Sandman turns the fated wheel. Momma used to read me a poem called The Sandman before I went to bed. It went a little something like this:
The Sandman's coming in his train of cars,
With moonbeam windows and with wheels of stars.
So hush now little one you have no fear
The Man in the Moon, he is the engineer.
The railroad track is a moonbeam bright,
That leads up straight to the starry night.
So put on your 'jamas and say your prayers
And know that the Sandman always cares." Daisy recited. "The second line is the connection."
"And the magician did deal the final blow," Mario recalled Blumiere's powerful display. What else could the Count do with his powers?
"And a riddle certainly popped up… who is that guy in green if it's not Luigi?" Bowser was the next to speak.
"But what was that who-ha about past wounds?" Daisy asked.
"I believe," Bluimere said sadly, "that that line would be speaking about myself."
"Oh?"
"I tried to fell these worlds a time ago… though whether it was short or long, I am unable to say… seeing this land that I tried to destroy… it hurt. But knowing I'm doing something to prevent it from the beginning this time… that old cut has finally closed. I feel at peace." Blumiere closed his eyes.
"I think that's the most you've spoken… ever," Bowser commented, though not unkindly.
"Why waste words? Actions are easier and far less finicky to interpret."
"We should probably see where that door leads us." Luigi gestured. "We need to move on and speak to Merlon and Rosalina again and see if they have any more information. Plus we need to find out about Dimentio. Is he working alone, or is he joining with others? Furthermore, is he the ringer leader or a follower in the latter scenario?"
"More riddles." Bowser rolled his eyes.
"Let's go, no sense in wasting time!" Daisy reached the door first and tugged it open, only to reveal another glimpse of purple before the group was pulled away again.
Great, Blumiere thought as he held onto his top hat and his wife, more void travelling.
A/N: Who is the guy in green if it's not Luigi indeed? And what did Fracktail mean by he's not of this realm? And furthermore, how did Fracktail know the person was a he if the robot couldn't see him that well?
I know the answers. Can you figure them out? Perhaps the last A/N will hold a clue…
I did not make up The Sandman rhyme. That belongs to history. I did, however, make up the prophecy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Nintendo.
(Current Length: about 15.25 pages and 5,216 words in MS Word.)