Author's Note: Okay, now let's see if we can't have three points of views in one chapter! Let's-a go!
Chapter 10: Three sides, ark 1
Enter Peach:
The men with the Xs on their shirts led me through several hallways until we reached a large throne room. Sitting in front of a computer was a large man, covered just like all the others with Xs, though his outfit looked slightly different… more elite as the case might be. He also held a scepter that seemed to radiate power.
"Sir!" a soldier in an X outfit said, saluting. "We have brought Peach as instructed, sir!"
"Excellent…" the important looking man said, stepping forward. "So, little girl, tell me… what is it you have done with the map?"
I looked away from him, refusing to tell him anything.
"Oh, a spicy one, are you?" the man asked. "No matter… we have ways to get people to talk-"
"SIR! SIR GRODUS!" a soldier with an X screamed, running in and flailing his arms around in panic. Grodus, the large man with the scepter, sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"Yes, what is it?" he snapped at the soldier. "Speak, X-Naut!"
"It's… well, you know that Crystal Star we knew about in Hooktail's Castle?" the X-Naut asked.
"Yes, what about it?" Grodus asked.
"Well… it's already taken," the X-Naut said, wincing.
"WHAT!" screamed Grodus, hitting the scepter on the ground. "Who DARES defy the X-Nauts and steal the Crystal Star from us?"
"Uh… this dude, sir," the X-Naut said, pulling out a remote and pushing a button. A video played on a screen above, and on it, I saw a female Goomba and two male Koopas walking along side…
"Mario!" I gasped.
"Oh?" Grodus asked with a sneer, looking at me. "So you know this man?"
I mentally cursed myself for giving Mario away like that.
"Hm… I see," Grodus said. "X-Nauts! Take Peach to her room. And make sure no harm comes to her, do you understand me?"
"Sir, yes sir!" the two X-Nauts that took me in said with a salute. After each one took me by an arm, they led me down the hall, through a few elevators, and into a locked room. I had to admit, the room wasn't hideous. However, a prison was a prison. Once again, I felt like a trapped rat.
"Well," I said to myself, sitting on the bed, "looks like I've gotten myself kidnapped… again. And Mario will be coming to save me… again. And Toadsworth is worrying himself sick… AGAIN."
I sighed, resting my face on my hands.
"I feel like I'm in a rut," I continued. "It's always get kidnapped, wait to be saved. At least Bowser is kind enough to supply me with magazines and satellite TV. Still though… why the heck do I have to be totally helpless? Why can't it be the damsel who saves the hero in distress?"
I stood up and walked to the door, glaring at it.
"And it's this stupid thing that's the only thing keeping me from escaping!" I said, kicking it. To my amazement, it swung open after being kicked. I blinked in astonishment.
"Well… okay, better keep a note of that for next time I'm kidnapped," I said to myself, running forward. There were only two ways out: The Elevator and an already open door. Seeing as the elevator wouldn't turn on, I walked forward into the room. The lights in it clicked on, and I saw a huge computer sitting in it. A camera was situated on top of it, and it was focused on me.
"GREETINGS, PEACH," a robotic voice greeted. I meeped as I jumped back.
"Are you… talking to me?" I asked, walking up to the computer and tapping it's screen.
"YES, I AM," the robotic voice said. "I AM TEC-XX, THE MAINFRAME OF THE X-NAUT BASE. I AM A PERFECT COMPUTER, FREE OF FLAWS."
"…would one of those 'flaws' be modesty?" I asked.
"I AM ASSUMING THAT WAS A JOKE," TEC said. "HAHA. FAT CHANCE."
"Ex-CUSE me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I AM SORRY, I WAS JUST CONVERSING WITH MY SISTER PROGRAM," TEC apologized. "I WORRY SOMETIMES SHE GETS TO ME. WHENEVER I SPEAK TO HER, I ALWAYS CRAVE CAKE."
"…right, free of flaws," I muttered. "Anyway, what do you want me here for?"
"WELL," TEC explained, "WHEN I CAUGHT SIGHT OF YOU, I ENCOUNTERED A GLITCH IN MY PROGRAM. IT WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAVE FELT BEFORE. I HAVE EXAMINED IT AND TRIPLE CHECKED EVERY SQUARE MICROMETER OF MY PROGRAMMING, AND I HAVE COME TO THIS CONCLUSION: I WISH TO SPEAK TO YOU. I WISH TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOU."
"Wait…" I said, what he was saying clicking in my head. "Do you mean… no, that can't be, you're just a computer!"
"PLEASE," TEC begged, "I WISH TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME."
"Well…" I said. "Maybe… you're in love… with me?"
This last part I whispered because it sounded so absurd.
"…LOVE?" TEC asked. "WHAT IS LOVE? "
As he asked, several websites showed up on his screen, apparently ever website that could be found when searching "Love" in Toogle (including a few catchy songs on YouToad).
"Well…" I tried to explain. "Love is… well, it's when you notice every little feature of someone. It's when you want to be with them all the time. Love is when you want to make them laugh just so you can hear that wonderful sound. It's when that special sparkle in their eyes makes your heart skip every time…"
As I spoke, Mario came to my mind. I sighed, rubbing my arm.
"…I HAVE DEFINITIONS FOR THE WORDS YOU SPEAK," TEC said, "BUT I AM AFRAID I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT IN WHICH YOU SPEAK. PRINCESS PEACH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU."
"Why should I?" I snapped, glaring up at him. "Your people kidnapped me and stuffed me down here!"
"I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE ANGRY," TEC said. "THAT EMOTION I UNDERSTAND. HOWEVER, IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY TEACH ME MORE OF THIS THING YOU CALL… LOVE, THEN I WILL GRANT A DESIRE OF YOURS. OF COURSE, I CANNOT ALLOW YOU TO EXCAPE, NOR CAN I DIRECTLY GO AGAINST AN ORDER THE GREAT AND MIGHTY SIR GRODUS SPECIFICALLY SAYS…"
"Okay… well, can I send an Email?" I asked. "You know, to tell Mario that I'm alright?"
"…YES, I ASSUME THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE," TEC said. "SIMPLY TYPE YOUR EMAIL ON MY KEYBOARD AND I WILL SEND IT."
"Alright," I nodded, walking up to the keyboard and typing. I wasn't very used to this Email stuff, but I didn't take all day, which was good. After I was done, I hit the send button, and there was a beeping noise.
"YOU MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT," TEC said. "PLEASE RETURN TO YOUR ROOM."
"Okay…" I said, walking to the door. "Uh… well then… see you TEC…"
"GOODNIGHT PRINCESS PEACH…" TEC said as the door closed behind me. If I didn't know better, I could have sworn I heard him sigh.
Little did I know that would only be the beginning of something I never would have thought possible…
Enter Bowser:
(A note from the author: Bowser's writing was so terrible, a few creative liberties had to be taken to make it even slightly readable. I apologize ahead of time for any mistranslations. However, I assume you would rather a mistranslation over reading something like: "bwahaha i am the most evil koopa in the world so dont you forget that and another thing" etc.)
Ha! Yeah, bet you didn't see ME coming, did ya? I know, you're probably worshiping me right now, wondering how I survived that attack from that stupid plumber in the last book. Well, I'll tell you why: I'm invincible! Nothing can destroy me! Even if it felt really weird like I was floating in nothing after being blown up, that was probably the world being so scared of me it ran away crying to its mommy when it tried to blow me up and I was all "Grr, back up world!" and it was "EEK, IT'S BOWSER, HE'S SO HANDSOME AND SCARY!" and then they ran!
Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, I was entering my castle all epic like, and all the Koopas were bowing to me as I entered. They said Kammy would be there in a bit, so I should wait in the back. While walking there, I made one do some sit-ups on the spot and laughed as he sweated from the pain. So when I got to the back, Kammy bursts in and tells me that-get this-PEACH WAS KIDNAPPED! By someone other than ME! Oh, I was so angry, I could have broken a pillar in half!
But Kammy calmed me down by telling me about some legendary treasure. Something about Crystal Stars or something. She told me that greedy Mario was after them, so obviously I had to take them before him! And who knows, if Peach sees me with Crystal Stars or whatever, maybe she'll finally like me! So, I jumped in my airship and blasted off to get those Crystal Stars! Kammy had to rush on her broom to keep up and pant something about directions, but right then I didn't need no stinkin' directions! I flew where the wind took me!
Enter Nozan:
I was sitting at a large computer, watching multiple screens change.
"Wow…" I breathed as the Dream Keeper pulled out the power of darkness from a Dragon.
"What wow?" the intern, Tom, asked, walking up with my coffee.
"Just the Dream Keeper's powers waking up is all," I said, taking the coffee. "He's catching on a lot faster than any we've had before, though… and I don't understand how he manages to wield both the power of light and that ugly Nightmare attached to his soul. Double-"
"Double cream, three sugars," Tom finished, grinning up at me with a look that reminded me of a kid who tried so hard to please his parents, even if it meant getting his hands filthy to make the best finger painting he could make. Impressed by his memory, I took a sip of my coffee and turned back to the screen…
…where upon I immidietly spat it out in shock.
"MERLIN!" I shouted. "GET MERLIN ON THE LINE, QUICK!"
"Uh, yes sir!" Tom said, getting a red phone-like device made for inter-Dream communication and dialing Merlin's number. He handed it to me, and I snatched it away as Merlin picked up.
"Blue?" he asked.
"Merlin, there's a-wait, blue?" I asked.
"Yeah," Merlin said. "You know how many people say yellow when they answer their phone? Well, I figured blue must be feeling left out, so I said that instead of yellow."
"Wha… look, that's not important right now!" I said. "The Dream-"
"I take offence to that!" Merlin said. "Without blue, the sky wouldn't be like we see it today! The oceans wouldn't look pleasing to take a dip in! Picasso-"
"NIGHTMARES!" I finally screamed. "THREE OF THEM! IN THE DREAM!"
"…well you don't have to yell," Merlin said.
"Right sir," I cringed. "Sorry sir. It won't happen again, sir…"
"Now then… three Nightmares?" Merlin asked.
"Yes sir…" I said. "The Shadow Sirens."
There was silence for a moment.
"My my…" Merlin said. "That IS unsettling… the Lord must be getting desperate if he's allowing three of his most elite soldiers to act under the command of a Dream being. Then again… Beldam has been proven to be a traitor, even in life. Yes… hm, I think this will cause for some careful strategizing…"
"Sir?" I asked.
"No need to fret," Merlin assured me. "I have faith in this child. Pax is going to mop the floor with them, so long as he uses the sword like he's been doing."
"Well… if you say so, sir," I sighed.
"Hey, no need to sound all mope-y!" Merlin said. "Take a break, eat a s'more, stretch a bit! You haven't been off that dang-blasted machine since Pax's first Dream!"
"…S'more, sir?" I asked.
"Have you ever seen someone stressed out eat a s'more and enjoy it?" Merlin asked.
"Well… no-" I started.
"There you go then," Merlin said. "Take a break from observation for a bit, that's an order. And maybe you'll let Tom get a shot."
"Y… yes sir," I sighed. "Right away sir."
"And cheer up, that's another order!" Merlin said. "Don't forget that S'more, a Gas oven is a great place for cooking those marshmallows!"
With that, he hung up. I sighed as I tossed the phone to Tom.
"Take lead point in observation," I told him as I left the room. "Merlin's ordered me to take a break…"
"Really?" Tom asked, his big eyes sparkling. "You're… really trusting ME with this job?"
"Yeah," I said. "Try not to screw anything up."
"You got it!" Tom saluted. "I won't let the Dreamers down!"
With that, he jumped in the seat and stared intently at the screen. Shaking my head, I left the room, wondering where I could find marshmallows and a gas stove.
Author's Note: Kudos to my Mom for teaching me the whole "cooking marshmallows on the stove" thing. Now I can never be without proper s'mores! Well, next chapter is re-visiting the Thousand Year Door, and actually RESTING (you know, the thing they never got to do in the last book) so until next time, this is Pax the Dreamer, signing out!