The cold was comforting to the Star folk. They were raised in Starborn Valley up north, so there was always a sense of familiarity. Once they were capable enough to harness the power of folks' hopes, they would ascend to Star Haven, which resided in space and held several deep pools of sparkiling water, which served to cool the place even further.
On the fateful day that Bowser nabbed the Star Rod, there so happened to be one last Star who rose to the sky. His bubbling excitement was mixed with a hint of confusion when the place seemed empty. No welcome or anything..? Was he wrong to assume that they would have something prepared? He had heard some stories that they always knew when a new Star was going to arrive, so this seemed a little odd.
The Star Kid wandered around for a little bit before spotting the entrance to the Temple that the honorable Star Spirits stayed in.
Twink smiled eagerly now, forgetting his unease. Maybe he was supposed to go straight to them...? It surely made sense for a newcomer to meet the legendary Star Spirits, right?
He flew in, hopes risen before having them dashed in a heartbeat.
There were signs of an attack, like a jagged hole in the ceiling, and everybody was missing. What was happening? Fear and panic rose in a flurry and he noticed that even the Star Rod was gone.
With wide eyes, Twink looked over at the destroyed room once more and bolted.
What if they were still around? This couldn't be happening. This was some mean-spirited prank, or he was have a horrible hallucination!
Twink flew haphazardly until bumping into another Star.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!" he stumbled over his words, "Did you see what happened!? I can't believe it, this is terrible! What are we going to do!? I'm-I'm-!"
"Chill out." He said.
Twink looked up nervously. The Star he bumped into had a few wishes following him. Eight of them. "...What are you doing with those?" he asked quietly.
"Granting them," he answered with amusement. "That's our job, you know.
"At a time like this? What's going on?" Twink asked.
"Well... I'm sure you've seen the room where the Spirits guard the Star Rod." he answered. "It was stolen. This collection of wishes I have will throw into motion the restoration of power to Star Haven."
Twink caught only a bit of the whispers of the wishes. Excitement, despair, frustration and confusion. It seemed a random jumble. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." the Star answered.
Twink wasn't too convinced honestly, but this Star's presence was soothing. and calmed him down a bit. "...What's your name? Mine is Twink."
"Twink." he nodded as a greeting. "Well, I'm very proud of my original name, but I've grown fond of another during a prior adventure of mine, and I tend to go by that name now. You may know me as... Geno." he said mysteriously.
"Geno? That's a weird name for a Star. What adventure was this?" Twink questioned.
"..." Geno blinked. Was the heroic feat of saving Star Road not worthy of being retold? Maybe the Star Spirits were too busy safekeeping the relic to keep his quest in circulation... But just because he's been out in the Galaxy, doesn't mean he should be forgotten! He should let it go, but his pride got the better of him. "You haven't heard of me?"
Twink hesitated. Should he have recognized him? "U-Uh. Well, I'm new up here. This is my first day. I don't really know anyone..."
"Oh!" Geno exclaimed. It made sense, and he felt a touch embarrassed. "I hadn't realized. Sorry that your welcome is far worse than nothing."
Twink laughed nervously. "Well, who can I blame?"
"Bowser." Geno answered as he headed closer to the edge of Star Haven. "He stole the Star Rod to fulfill his own wishes. He took over the Mushroom Kingdom, and nearly offed Mario."
The young Star Kid frowned. "What a bad thing to do." he said.
Geno looked out to the stars in space in contemplation. Just like... "...He's a very stubborn character. But that isn't what matters." The older Star gathered up the wishes and stared at them for a few seconds. These would tip the balance in Mario's favor.
Geno closed his eyes and focused. He tapped into his reserves of faith and power, and felt it drain as he gave it to fuel the wishes he gathered. As they were filled, they quieted down. At full capacity, they separated from Geno, powerful enough on their own now. And they went forth, shining ever brighter.
Twink watched in awe as the lights spiraled towards the planet below and trailed them with his eyes until they were long out of sight. The Star Spirits were trapped, and this spectacular Star could still grant wishes. "...What can I do to help?" he asked.
The older Star Spirit didn't answer right away. "...Do you hear that?"
Twink listened hard. ...No..? Oh, wait! The faintest of wishes:
"...Something must be done. ...If only somebody could help me."
For it to reach up here without the Star Rod picking it up.. their Hope was strong. Twink looked to Geno with evident surprise. "Yes, I heard it!"
"Go and follow that wish. Grant it." he ordered.
"Me?" Twink squeaked out. "I mean.. why don't you go? You're clearly stronger and more attuned to Wishes."
"I spent my reserves on those wishes. You can do your part here by granting hers." Geno said sternly, but then softened up. "I'd like to... but I do have to get back. I was supposed to pass by here, but I couldn't just let this place go to shambles."
Twink accepted that answer silently. He was sure there was some deeper meaning to that but couldn't figure it out. "...Do you know where it is?" He asked instead of arguing.
Geno nodded. "But you should seek her out on your own. Get some practice in."
Twink was nervous, but he nodded. "Ok..." To help bring the Star Spirits back. It was just like Hide and Seek, right? ...
"And Twink," Geno smiled before the two Stars went their separate ways. "Tell Princess Peach I said hey."
It took him days. By then Geno's message has been long forgotten, sadly. But the trek along the stars has been worth it. Twink reached out and managed to track down the source of all the hope.
It resided in a castle on top of a scarier castle. He floated down, and looked in through a window. It was dark and desolate. He went on to the next one, and the next. Some of them were lit, but no one was in sight.
Roaming to other windows proved to be fruitful in the end. There was a pair of doors that resided on a balcony that was brightly lit. Peering through, Twink could see a blonde in a pink dress, laying on her bed. Was she the Princess?
Yes! That's where the Hope came from, he was sure of it!
Ecstatic, Twink started to tap on the windows but stopped when the King of Koopas stomped in, followed by a much smaller one in mage's robes. Upon realizing it, Twink stopped and flew upwards, out of sight but peeking in.
The Princess stood and walked down the steps to meet Bowser halfway, wanting him in her own chambers as little as possible. It was bad enough he accomplished all of this. She would at least not give him the satisfaction of being pushed around.
Bowser's laugh reached Twink, and his voice alone was enough to give him shivers. "My lovely Princess Peach, how are you doing this fine day?"
She ignored him, keeping the patient poise she was taught.
"It's no use putting on a strong mask, dear." The Magikoopa remarked. "Everyone who was in your castle is imprisoned."
"Yeah, and I have this baby, see?" Bowser gloated, brandishing the Star Rod. Twink gasped, the brute! Just showcasing it carelessly! It looked so out of place held by his claws. "The power that grants everyone's wishes is mine now! Isn't that just wonderful?"
"Just imagine your subjects now, Princess. So devastated because their own selfish wishes aren't being granted." Kammy cackled. Their Princess is imprisoned and their champion defeated! You all deserve it for mistreating us all these years."
Peach knew that they were just trying to goad her into talking. She stayed silent defiantly. As if she hadn't already been filled with concern and guilt for everybody these past few days on her own.
Bowser continued, stubbornly refusing to give the Princess this win. "As long as I have this, no one in the Mushroom Kingdom can touch me. Not those lousy Star Spirits who don't grant wishes, or Mario!"
"Not that he's a problem anymore. Since Great King Bowser defeated him once and for all!" Kammy interjected just a bit too quickly.
Princess Peach couldn't cover up her surprise in time. "Mario is okay?"
Bowser growled at her joy and his own big mouth. Why wasn't Kammy better at lying!?
"You watch yourself, Princess." Kammy scowled at her. "There's no hope for anybody in the Mushroom Kingdom, so just give it up."
Peach returned to her non-responsive treatment towards the two, but a faint smile now remained on her expression.
Angrily, Bowser stomped out, and Kammy followed out after shooting her one final glare and a "Stay out of trouble."
They didn't give a straight answer. So Mario was at least still standing. Somewhere out there...
For the first time in days, Peach felt more than just fear for her people. Some relief was had with the knowledge that Mario was on his feet and not in the clutches of Bowser like she was.
The Princess heard faint taps somewhere in the room. Bowser just barges in, and she'd imagine his knocks would make the door break.
The noise sounded like it was behind her. She turned around curiously. The balcony doors? Who could be knocking on her doors way up here? She walked up the steps and past her bed to the glass doors. As soon as she opened them, a small star drifted in. A genuine smile was clear on his face, and the room seemed to brighten a little bit more.
"Hello, Princess! Pleased to meet you!" he greeted. "My name is Twink."
Help has arrived! But, the princess noticed his... very young-sounding voice. She didn't want to sound ungrateful, but didn't young stars live near the Shiver Mountains? "You're a Star Kid, aren't you? How'd you get here?"
"I came from Star Haven to grant your wish!" Twink answered with confidence.
"Oh, I see!" Peach smiled, relieved things were finally looking up. "So you came to help me."
"Of course!" Twink confirmed. "That's our job! To grant wishes."
"That's splendid! Thank you so much for coming! Here's my wish," Princess Peach said. Twink leaned in to hear his first wish clearly. "Go and get the Star Rod back from Bowser."
Twink's smile faltered as he took in her statement. That big mean-looking Koopa... "Um...sorry..." he said, "That might be a little too much for a novice star like myself. Maybe one of the honorable Star Spirits like Skolar could outsmart him, or..."
He might have been just a few years old, then. From what Princess Peach knew about Stars, they lived a really long time. "Then.. Can you guide me through the two castles? We must get everyone held prisoner out of here and back down to safety."
"...Oh...I'm so sorry. I.. can't." Twink frowned. He wouldn't be able take on the soldiers on his own. Muskular would have been able to. Or Misstar could keep the Princess safe and healthy. He felt like he could cry. "Actually, I.. just got called up the the sky not even a week ago. Maybe if I were a more splendid Star..."
Peach reached up caringly to comfort him. "It's all right, Twink. We both want to help stop Bowser's nasty scheme. Don't be sad. You came here to help me after all, and that's very brave of you."
Twink smiled at her, though he seemed to be a bit down over his inability to do much.
The Princess knew how that felt all too well, but couldn't focus on that. She needed to dwell on what she could do. "Oh, that's it!" she exclaimed. "Twink, do you think you can go and find Mario?"
He brightened up. "I sure can, Princess! As long as I can float and talk, I can send messages between you two!"
"That's great, then! You can feel me in on how well he is." The Princess's smile grew soft. "And, tell him that... I'm fine, and he shouldn't worry about me."
"Will do, Princess! I won't forget!" As Twink said that, he wondered if he's forgotten some other message. He flew out onto the balcony, and she followed him.
Princess Peach clasped the necklace she wore. Twink paused, feeling some sense of... despair to her. "...Give him this too, Twink." she said, removing it from her person. "I feel it would serve him well, given the situation."
"Oh..!" Twink marveled at the necklace. "A Lucky Star! That's how your Wish was able to reach us!"
Peach laughed lightly in response. Twink felt light hearted again. "Now, don't worry princess. I'll be back soon. Stay safe, ok?"
"I will, Twink." She promised. The Star Kid flew out to the night sky. Peach waved until her new friend disappeared past the thick layer of clouds that formed down below. She stepped to the railing and looked out to the vastly different scenery than the familiar greens of her Kingdom. Things were looking up a little, but concern was still present in her heart.
"Oh, Mario..." she spoke, even if she might not be heard. "Stay strong..."
Stay strong...
Geno startled as he made his way through space. Was that Princess Peach again...? He was so far already, but her wishes still reached him.
He smiled and continued. It wasn't a bad thing really. She had such strong hope in the Stars. In difficult times like these, that was the most important thing. Every ounce of power to the Stars made all the difference.
Despite everything, he couldn't help but reminisce over his own past quest. His thoughts wondered over to the young Star. Twink. He wondered if he had managed to find Peach.
He briefly wondered about staying after all and helping out, but decided that it was for the best he return. He belonged elsewhere now...
He no longer worked under the Star Spirits, but the Ruler of the Cosmos. Besides, they could manage it. With a kind heart and hope as strong as Peach had, and the bravery and strength a hero like Mario had, how could they fail? He would always have faith in them...
I kind of had a slightly different idea for Geno... but it would best be saved for a different story, you know? ;)