Somewhere in the cosmos
Super Mario dimension
The Comet Observatory floated through space.
A yellow Luma stood outside, staring at the infinite blackness of the universe dotted with the light of stars. Other colorful Lumas scampered around the Observatory. The yellow Luma only gazed all around it. Its eyes watched twinkling stars, distant comets, and a shooting star…
A shooting star that seemed to weave and curve every which way.
The Luma jumped back in surprise. No shooting star acted like that! Mama needed to know about this!
The star blipped rapidly as it sped past the Luma's view, off into space. The yellow Luma turned around and raced inside the Observatory. It searched and searched all over for its caretaker…
"Why, whatever has you so troubled?"
The Luma turned to the source of the voice and, with a happy chitter, leaped into her arms. Wasting no time, the Luma quickly explained to her about the strange shooting star.
"I agree. Out of all the stars in the universe, no shooting star can move that quickly and with precise movements. Did you see where it went?"
The Luma pointed in the indicated direction.
"Well, then… let's follow it."
…
Engines roared and flames spat out from exhausts as five racing karts zoomed down the multi-colored track of Rainbow Road. The competition for first place was heated up.
Bowser rammed the rear of Luigi's kart, sending the cowardly green sidekick into a panic. Luigi slammed on the gas, trying to get away from Bowser as much as he could. As Peach drove up to the duo, she only gave them a glance.
Up ahead, Donkey Kong caught up to Mario, intending to overtake him for first place. The two drivers were soon side-by-side, giving each other a glare that sent them back to their rivalry days…
Suddenly, something blasted past them, sending both drivers skidding! Mario barely had a good glance at it, but it looked like… a star?
…
Kirby raced down the track, barely noticing the racers he had flown past. His assignment had been made clear: the delivery of an invitation to somewhere called "the Comet Observatory". But in a universe not his own, Kirby knew getting lost was a high probability. He could probably use this place as a reminder for where he'd been.
A trail of blue light and dust swooshed past, startling Kirby and making him lose his balance on the Warp Star. A comet!
The Warp Star wobbled and struggled to stay in the air (or space, in this case) as Kirby held on for dear life. One slip off and he would be floating forever in zero gravity…
The Warp Star crashed down onto the colorful path, vanishing as it hit. Kirby, flung forward, was sent tumbling and sliding to a stop face-first. He lay motionless for a moment, trying to catch his breath… before feeling something tap him on the head.
Kirby hopped to his feet, looking around at the stars above him before a small noise made him look ahead… to see a strange star-like creature before him. Obviously one of this universe's various species.
Kirby and the star creature stared at each other curiously… before the sound of engines came from behind him.
"Oh! It's Kirby!" he heard a feminine voice call out.
"What the heck's he doing here?!" another voice called out, this one a little meaner. "He ruined our race!"
Turning behind him, Kirby saw Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Bowser, and Peach all in racing karts. Apparently, this was the track he had landed on. He was lucky he didn't get hit.
Slowing to a stop near Kirby, Donkey Kong poked at the pink puffball with one finger… while Mario grew intrigued when his eyes rested on the star creature. Kirby realized that Mario knew this thing. But from where?
A blue light suddenly shone in front of the group… a light that Kirby recognized to be of the comet from earlier. The light began to fade as a heavenly voice called out.
"Luma… come to Mother."
The star creature chirped in joy before bouncing into the fading light… which revealed itself to be a woman in a blue dress, platinum hair covering one of her twinkling sapphire eyes, a star brooch and earrings, and a silver crown to top it off.
Gasping, Mario exited his vehicle and jogged up to the woman as Kirby and Luigi did the same. Her eyes resting on the brothers, the woman gave a warm smile as she held the star creature, the "Luma", in her arms.
"Greetings, Mario Brothers," she spoke. "It has been quite a while."
"Princess Rosalina!" Peach gasped as she, Bowser and Donkey Kong approached. "How nice of you to join us! What brings you here?"
"It appears this strange, pink creature is responsible for this meeting." The woman, Rosalina, answered. Bowser gave out an irritated huff.
"Darn right he is! Thanks to him, I don't have my trophy!"
Ignoring the pouting Koopa King who had his arms crossed and head turned away in a snarl, Peach stepped forth.
"His name is Kirby, and he hails from a universe unlike this one. He is a dear friend to all of us."
Rosalina's eyes grew wide. "Another universe, you say?"
Mario and Luigi nodded simultaneously.
"Back on the Observatory, Luma here informed me of a shooting star that was moving quickly and wildly throughout space. That must have been you, little one. I accidentally managed to drop Luma onto Rainbow Road… where the two of you must have met."
Kirby suddenly perked up… and smiled, doing a small dance in victory.
"Oh?" Rosalina noticed. "Is there something on your mind?"
Kirby nodded before taking out an envelope and handing it out to the woman. Instead of reaching out, Rosalina smiled and pulled out a wand with a star on the tip… and waved it.
To Kirby's surprise, the envelope began to levitate from his hand and float directly in front of Rosalina. With a few more gestures of the wand, Rosalina made the seal on the envelope break, open it and extract the letter inside.
"Hmm…" she said, reading over the contents with Luma. "It seems all of you have been busy."
"Kirby must have been looking for you to give you that," Peach realized. "I do hope he hasn't tired himself traveling to galaxy after galaxy in his search."
"And I believe he must be waiting for his response. To which I say…" Rosalina began, releasing her gravitational hold on the envelope. "I accept. I look forward to learning more about these new universes."
Giving out an excited chirp, Luma hopped from Rosalina's arms and landed near Kirby. The two of them danced around before giving each other a high-five. With a chuckle, Rosalina moved her wand in sync with their actions.
"But before we all get started," she spoke with a smile. "I believe you were all in the middle of something?"
"NOW we're talking!" Bowser roared, bumping his fists together as everyone got back into their karts. "Let's get this thing back underway!"
"Of course. But first…" Rosalina pointed her wand at the karts and moved it upward… sending them all floating.
"Whoa! What the?!" Bowser shouted in surprise.
"Now, now…" Rosalina assured him. "I'm sure you all want this to go fairly, don't you?"
With those words, she directed the five karts back to a sign that read "MARIOKART" in colorful letters. While they floated to the starting line, Kirby hopped back onto his Warp Star and flew after them while Rosalina followed.
"Second time's the charm!" Bowser roared. "Hope you chumps are ready to eat my stardust! Again!"
"Races aren't about winning or losing," Peach replied. "It's how you run them."
Mario and Luigi nodded to each other, wishing good luck while Donkey Kong straightened his necktie. Flying in from behind them, Kirby readied his Warp Star and took a bracing stance while Rosalina readied a Launch Star.
Before long, Lakitu appeared with the racing lights on the end of his fishing pole. "Everyone ready?" he announced before raising his hand, counting down as the lights began to shine.
"Three… two… one… GO!"
As the three red lights turned blue, the karts sped off from the starting line and onto the colored track. The Warp Star raced off into the space off the track while Rosalina blasted off from her Launch Star, arms spread as she flew.
As the karts zoomed along the track, drove across Dash Panels, and nabbed Item Boxes, Kirby looped his Warp Star under and over the track, kicking up a stunt as he waved to the racers. Rosalina flew by as Luma chittered in glee.
And on the track below, Mario, once again in the lead, pumped his fist above him with a glorious "YAHOO!"
