Chapter 16

16A - The Star Road

"Great choice for dinner, Mario," Luigi said while he, Mario, and Spike approached Natasha T.'s Pizza Parlor. "At least we get to have our favorite food before going to Bowser's Castle."

Within ten minutes, Mario and friends were seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant.

"You might think this is funny, Spike. Me and Luigi are obsessed with Italian food, which is this rumor people from our original world have been passing along having played our video games or watched the cartoons based off our adventures," Mario explained.

"Does that mean you eat this all the time?" Spike asked.

"We used to, but after weighing ourselves following our first adventure, we decided to cut back a small bit."

"And by 'a small bit', it doesn't mean eating in moderation," Luigi added in. "It's still a bad habit up to this day, but no one sees us chowing down pizza and pasta unless there's a video game that wants to show our passion briefly."

A couple minutes later, the waiter came by with three cups of iced water and took the group's orders. Mario asked for a 16-inch plain cheese pizza, Luigi ordered a 14-inch Hawaiian pizza, and Spike asked for a small order of mozzarella sticks because he wasn't that hungry.

"Let's say this is our 'last meal' just in case we literally don't make it out alive," Mario stated. "I mean, there's a good chance that Bowser with the Star Rod can kill us all even if the Star Spirits have our backs."

"You might be right, bro," Luigi agreed. "It technically doesn't matter if we're the 'Super Mario Bros.' Well, then again, there's that possibility of us saving Princess Peach and getting the Star Rod without a hitch."

"So, it's 50:50, right?" Spike asked.

"Yeah," Mario replied. He proceeded to raise his cup of water. "To us: the world-famous heroes of the Mushroom Kingdom."

"To all the friends and family who supported us since we were kids," Luigi said while raising his cup. Spike hesitated to do the same, though.

"Come on, Spike. At least join in," Mario requested.

"Okay," Spike sighed before raising his cup. "Umm... To the...Star Spirits who will forever...grant our wishes no matter what...?" Mario and Luigi clinked their cups including Spike's.

"Cheers!" the Mario Bros. said with delight before sipping their drinks. Spike did the same a couple seconds later.

"Not bad, Spike," Luigi complimented Spike. "But why did you hesitate?"

"To be honest, I'm still feeling the dilemma between choosing the good or evil side."

"Don't say that," Mario said. "You promised to be a hero for the Mushroom Kingdom. It should make you proud."

"That's true," Spike responded. "I'll be fine, Mario. I'm sorry."

"It's all good."

After ten more minutes, everyone's dinners were served, and Mario and Luigi immediately started devouring their pizzas quickly.

"I guess the rumor IS true," Spike said to himself before digging into his mozzarella sticks at a steady pace.

15 minutes later, Mario and friends were ready to press on to Star Hill. By this time, it was 6:35 PM, 30 minutes after sunset.

As soon as they went through the blue gate leading to the castle grounds before making a right, Mario looked up at the skies for a moment.

"Spike, you might want to watch the sky for a moment," Mario told Spike. "You're gonna be awed at these shooting stars." Mario was right; within seconds, tens of shooting stars began to fall around him, Luigi, and Spike.

"Wow," Spike murmured. "They're like candles in the form of stars." He was referring to how bright the stars were from a distance before they hit the ground. Five minutes later, the group arrived at the base of Star Hill.

"When we reach the summit, all seven Star Spirits will be waiting for us there," Luigi explained. "But you have to keep quiet while they speak. Their words of wisdom are very important above all else."

Spike nodded before Mario led him and Spike up the mountain before reaching the summit six minutes later. They were expecting the Star Spirits to be hovering in a ring around the surface, but there wasn't anyone there.

Suddenly, Eldstar's voice said from out of nowhere, "Mario? Luigi? Can you hear me...?"

"Yes," Mario and Luigi replied silently.

"I'm going to open the entrance to the Star Path. Enter this path without fear. The Star Path continues all the way up here to the Star Road. We seven Star Spirits will be waiting for you there. We wish to give you our remaining power. With this power, you will be able to stand up to the Star Rod Bowser holds."

The star symbols the Star Spirits typically hover over and the one in the center glowed bright before a beam with stars circling it appeared on the center of the summit. It would take Mario and friends to the Star Path.

"We anxiously await you..." Eldstar stated. "Mario and Luigi, make haste to the Star Road!"

Without hesitation, the group stepped inside the beam and rose quickly to the Star Path within five seconds. Its base was about 500 feet above Star Hill's summit.

"All right-y. Let's-a go," Mario declared calmly. He knew now wasn't the time to be cheerful as there were bigger things to worry about. As the group started up the Star Path, they could see the ground clearly beneath the path because it was made completely out of stars, but it was solid enough to walk across.

However, the path wasn't free of enemies; a group of six blue Embers scouted the Star Path. Luckily, Mario was able to use the Star Power Band to get rid of the Embers. To do that, he activated the "Time Out" power to freeze the Embers in place before activating the "Up & Away" power to turn them into stars that immediately rose toward the sky. Mario then used "Focus" to refill the four Star Energy units that were used up.

"When will we need the powerups we got earlier?" Luigi asked, referring to the Hammer Suit, Fire Flower, and Dizzy Dial powerups.

"We won't use them all at once," Mario replied. "The best way is to figure out the enemies' weaknesses before either burning, hammering, or dazing them."

Eventually, Mario and friends entered the Star Road: a small village with a shop, an Inn, and a lounge. There were also multiple Star Kids older than Twink who inhabited the village.

"I guess they rebuilt this place," Mario remarked while looking around. "I thought the Star Road was a giant star-shaped platform that no one lived upon."

"And the seven Star Pieces were replaced by the Star Spirits," Luigi chimed in. "It was probably Geno who handed it over after the Star Road was repaired."

"Who's Geno?" Spike asked.

"He was the only other partner who accompanied me during that adventure we talked about before we fought Huff N. Puff," Mario answered.

"Oh, I see," Spike said, having remembered Mario talking about the 1996 adventure earlier today.

Mario and friends walked around the village for a couple minutes, gazing at the buildings and layout. Afterwards, Mario saw a red and gray stone path that connected to the Star Path leading to the east.

"Maybe this will take us to the Star Spirits," Mario said. He beckoned Luigi and Spike to go with him down the stone path. They eventually saw a giant palace with a deep blue roof. The front door was wide open, which meant the Star Spirits anticipated the group's arrival. Mario clasped his hands together while Luigi straightened his cap.

"I'm feeling a bit nervous," Mario stated as he felt himself shaking a small bit. "I could compare this to when you're about to start the last game of the World Series with the opposing team tying the number of wins with your team."

Luigi laid his hand on Mario's shoulder to calm him down. "Take it easy, bro. If we end up in a dire situation, I'll be more than glad to be in charge of the team."

While Luigi talked with Mario, Spike wanted to beg them to not stall and go in the palace, but understood Mario's condition and stayed silent.

After taking a deep breath, Mario took the lead again. "Mettiamo fine al malvagio di Bowser. (Let's put an end to Bowser's evildoing.)" Mario said softly in Italian; it was enough for Luigi and Spike to hear him.

Without further ado, Mario and friends walked into the palace, whose interior consisted of a giant moat with a single platform and podium connected to a stairway starting at the front door. Seven crystal pillars surrounded the platform; each of the seven Star Spirits hovered above their respective pillar.

Mario and friends stopped short of the platform's podium and looked Eldstar in the eye.

"Mario and company, you finally made it," Eldstar stated. "The time has come to take the fight to Bowser's turf. Now... Stand still while we seven join together to bestow upon you our final power."

The Star Spirits rose up a bit and went back down, causing multiple sparks of energy to shine around Mario and Luigi for five seconds. Mario's Star Power Band changed color from black, yellow, white, and gold to blue, white, teal, and orange. All seven white star-shaped buttons and the teal circle glowed bright, indicating the band was completely full of power far greater than one could ever imagine.

"This final power we bestowed upon you, Mario and company, is the Star Beam," Eldstar explained. "Using this power will drain the power of the Star Rod whenever Bowser uses it. Now, one more thing we will do for you is summon a gift which should come in handy."

Within eight seconds, a blue and white ship with four yellow seats appeared atop the podium.

"This is the legendary Star Cruiser of the Star Road. Bowser is keeping his castle way up in the sky. With this ship, however, you can reach it," Eldstar said. "Now, take your seats and buckle up tight."

Mario, Luigi, and Spike climbed into the Star Cruiser with Mario and Luigi strapping themselves into the front seats and Spike sitting in the back-left seat. They made sure to tighten their chest straps enough for them to not fall off.

"Remember, Mario and company, we will always be with you. Whenever you are in need, use our powers to help you," Eldstar reminded the group.

"Here we go, guys," Luigi said. Mario closed his eyes, given that he was still nervous about the final part of the adventure. The roof of the palace opened slowly, exposing the starry sky.

Mario heard his mental conscience count down from ten before the Star Cruiser slowly rose out of the palace until it was about 30 feet above the roof. Five seconds later, the Star Cruiser suddenly accelerated straight, subjecting Mario and friends to three and a half g's.

In Mario's mind, he kept repeating to himself, "Hang in there, Mario." There was no going back now; Mario and friends were dead set on saving Jim and Peach before taking the Star Rod from Bowser.