The ocean spray from the Jolly Roger Bay leaped into the air as if to reach for the pink sunrise overhead. Pink sunrises were always the best. They radiating this otherworldly sense of peace. Peach didn't want to look away, but there were more pressing matters to attend to. She swung the binoculars and was rewarded with an up-close view of Elvin Gadd's hair, which was sprouting a few more gray hairs sticking out in that thicket of black. "Is it done now, Professor?" The binoculars flipped from Elvin to the ocean. Back to Elvin. Back to the ocean.

Elvin stood over their latest invention; A rubber cylinder-like prosthetic painted completely white. "Just making sure nothing's gone wrong overnight...tracker's up and running, looks good to me! The Cephaloprothstetic is ready to go!"

"Great! Let's go! I can take us out to the water. Like right now!"

"Are you sure? I don't want this to break, Peach. This is a very delicate piece of equipment! And well... so am I! This took us weeks to model and build."

"Professor, I can do it!"

"Peach, if this plastic melts..."

She swiped up a piece of paper from his desk. "Tell you what. I'll go to shore and back. If this card is burned at all, we'll ride in the car. If it's not, I'll carry you there. Deal!"

"b-But-But-" The lighthouse window was already slammed open. The crackling of fresh flames mixed with the call of the seagulls as Peach exploded into the sunrise.

The bay's Blooper school was almost here for their morning feeding. Peach kept her eyes on the back of the group. A very special Blooper was bound to be there. She was the reason Elvin and Peach were at the bay in the first place, Bloopus! The pair had first discovered her out sailing in the bay. When feeding the Bloopers, Peach had noticed one struggling to keep up. Upon further inspection, Elvin concluded that one of her limbs had been bitten off. "Probably a Maw-Ray."

Placing a tracker on her, they spent the week observing her with the rest of the school. On her best days in balmy water, she was awkward; slower than the others. When the waves grew fiercer, Bloopus always lagged behind. While Bloopers were invertebrates (they didn't have bones, which is kind of weird, if Peach was being honest. Like, how do you have a head but no bones in it?), they couldn't develop scoliosis. But they could get muscle and nerve damage. "Good chance she won't be around this time next year if we don't do something now. Maw-Rays rarely miss the same prey twice."

Peach and Professor Gadd spent their nights for the last month crafting the perfect prosthetic. It couldn't be too heavy; that would anchor Bloopus even more. it couldn't be too light; Bloopus needed to develop the muscle in that area. Being waterproof was essential.

Ships were made out of metal, and they were always in the water. Metal would also make sure it wouldn't break in the water. Examining water-resistant metals, they quickly narrowed it down to 4 candidates: aluminum, brass, bronze, and copper. Brass, bronze, and copper were heavy metals, way too dense for Bloopus to constantly lug around. Aluminum was a decent candidate. Easy to meld, water-resistant enough, and decently durable. It took a little while to design a perfect prosthetic arm, but Elvin figured it out. Then came Peach's part: welding it to shape Elvin's design. That was a headache. She'd never sculpted with Soulfire before. After almost gassing them both to death numerous times, she actually got the hang of it, and a workable prototype was left in Elvin's vibrating foot spa. A week later, Elvin measured the chemical balance of the water.

"This is what I was afraid of. The aluminum is reacting with the water. If it's constantly touching her skin, it could poison her sooner or later."

And so Elvin had to design more prosthetics. And more. And more. And more. And this design still resulted in the metal rusting. And this one wouldn't work because plastic insulation in water doesn't end well. And this one was too heavy. And this one had issues flexing and this one could damage Bloopus' shoulder...

"Blast! All these hours of working and we don't even have a working prototype. This aluminum idea is just not working. I need something to work with it, but not plastic. Maybe a different metal? But I don't want it rusting."

"Maybe," Peach looked around at the scraps of aluminum on the floor. "maybe we don't need metal at all? Wouldn't that solve the rust problem at least?"

"Yes but, what else would we use?" Maybe Peach was onto something. Time for some brainstorming. "Quick Peach, tell me something you always see in water that never rusts."

Something in the water. Something in the water. Give a smart answer. "Uhhhhhhhhhh...Ducks."

"Ducks?"

Peach stood up and walked to the bathroom, returning with a blob of yellow and placing it on the table. "Rubber ducks. The rubber won't rust. And it's not bad for the environment like plastic is...right?"

"No, it can't." Elvin held the duck in his hand." "Peach, you're a genius. Rubber is exactly what we need! Not heavy, non-oxidizing, waterproof! Flexible enough to work with, and as long as you're not constantly busting it against rocks, it'll be pretty durable, to boot!" Elbin clicked on his pen. "We can start a whole new design right now!"

From overhead, She could just see specks of white popping out of the water. They'll be near the shore in minutes! If I get Elvin right quick, we'll meet them just in time! She clenched her first. The Soulfire around her darkened as it cooled, all the way to a deep red by the time her feet touched down on the beach.

BLOooOOOooP! BlOoUUUoooP! BLOOOOOOOP!

"What do you think?"

"My business card... it's barely warm." He flipped it over. The mustard stain on the back was gone. "You even cleaned it?"

I did? "Of course I did! I have control of my powers, Professor Elvin. "Now Let's go! They're on their way!" She grabbed his hand and ran to the window.

"Peach! Peach! Just make sure you take it SLOOOOOOOOO-"

Elvin shot his head up, focusing on the nice sky. Still, he let out a shrill scream upon landing, Peach far too focused on the waves to notice.

BLOooP! Bloop! Blooop! Bloop Bloop! Bl-OOOOP! Bloop! Bloup Bloop!

The Blooper school had reached the shores, feeling around the rocks for plenty of food. Peached scanned the back of the pack. "Here she comes!" Pushing out the ways just a little harder than everyone else in front of her, was Bloopus!

"Bloopus! On the shore!" Peach waved her arms. Bloopus found herself against the wall of the rest of the school.

"Oh, I hadn't thought of this..." There was no way for Bloopus to snake her way through to them. "I guess we could get the boat, but I don't wanna disturb the rest of the school..."

Peach grabbed his arm. "Don't worry, we'll go to her no problem!"

"Wait Peach NOOO-" Elvin was hoisted into the air. Bloopers stopped their feeding, taking in the sight. As Peach descended to get to Bloopus, all Elvin saw were his legs dangling in the air, mere meters from the water. "Peachdontdropme. Peachdontdropme. Peachdontdropme."

"Hm? Oh, Professor, relax! You're light as a feather. I won't drop you at all! Do you have the Cephaloprothstetic ready?"

Thank goodness for my new salad diet. "O-Okay!" He pulled it out of his pocket. "Hey, girl. I've got something for you that's gonna change your life!"

"Blo-Bloop?" She turned her head to the side. A few quick smells with her tentacles. Whatever it was, it wasn't food. Elvin reached out to her. Bloopus swam back. "BLOOP!"

The school all turned around. Elvin could feel their eyes. And their aggression. The average blooper can shoot out enough ink to paint a fence in minutes...

Peach reached into her pocket and pulled out a mini-fishcake. "Here! Fresh from the best baker the Mushroom Kingdom!"

Bloopus instantly wrapped her tentacles around the treat, merrily lapping it up.

"Professor Elvin, maybe I can put it on her!"

"It's okay. I promise I won't hurt you." She offered another mini-fishcake. "Would you like another snack?"

The half tentacle reached up with the others, merely flailing in the air. Peach slid Bloopus' half-tentacle through and tightened the lock.

"BLOOP!" Bloopus skidded back, trying to shake herself free. Realizing she couldn't, Bloopus swayed the prosthetic through the water. Bloup... She jetted away. Bloup? She looked back at her new arm. Bloup! She spun. BLOOP!

"EEEEEEE! Professor, it works! It works!" Peach looked away. "Professor..." She'd read about that stuff and knew about it, but she didn't want to hear about it with Bloopers, especially from the Professor.

Doing a few pirouettes in the balmy water. Bloup... Bloup! Bloup!

"Yeah..." The pair watched as the school of Bloopers surrounded Bloopus, playfully dipping in and out of the waves. Bloup! Bloup! Bloup! Blooooouuuuuup!"

"Remember Peach. Science, tools, technology, all of it is meant to improve life. It should never be in the cause to harm it."

"Look at them. They're beautiful, aren't they?"

"Yeah." Elvin couldn't help but throw a side-glare at his student. Her childish impulsiveness was growing into quite the quick wit. As for her Soulfire, evolution was a mystery. She'd probably have it controlled when she reached adulthood. And with the way she was maturing, that seemed much sooner than later. Once she was ready to stand on her own two feet and be the princess, the question wouldn't be what she could do, it'd be what she couldn't.

Elvin Gadd fumbled through his pocket, trying to get his access card before his teeth started chattering. Even though it was spring in the mushroom kingdom, it was much closer to winter than summer, especially at night.

Cutting the lights on once inside Gadd Science, Inc., Elvin made a beeline for robotics.

What had happened to Peach? Eight months ago, Toad came from the royal garden holding what that Link guy called a 'Bit'. Peach felt its power at first touch, enamored by it. She and Elvin ran endless tests on it for a week straight: it was unlike anything they'd ever seen. She tore through the entire garden hoping to find more. No cigar.

Two weeks later, Bowser sent a wedding proposal through the mail; it was the biggest load of malarkey Elvin had ever witnessed. And to top it all off: A video in which he punched a dormant volcano active. Elvin thought it was those whacky new special effects that were coming out in movies, but by using cutting-edge video software called ENHANCE, they all saw the same thing: Bowser had a Bit of his own.

Peach became obsessed with finding more Bits, sending ambassadors all over the world. Elvin was one, of course. An extra reason to attend the yearly world science fair. He used to take Peach with her when she was younger and full of that adorable childish enthusiasm. She used to poke around every display and exhibit she could get her hands on. She loved the ones about space the most, constantly rattling off newfound space facts in the ride home and how much she wanted to explore the universe.

At this year's fair, Elvin had fished around for anything even remotely resembling a Bit, to no avail. He switched tactics, asking if the Koopa Kingdom had asked for any of his colleagues' services. That proved fruitless as well until Elvin was alone at the salad bar.

"Mr. Gadd, hello."

Elvin quickly wiped some ranch on his jacket before turning to faced esteemed mineralogist, Digger T. Rock.

"Rock, my man, what can I do for you?"

"I heard you were asking about business dealings with the Koopa Empire. Well, several months ago, I had finished exploring a lost city, and I was approached by Kamek himself. I met with Lord Bowser, and he inquired as to the potential of realizing a machine that could turn anything into brick."

"Brick?"

"My reaction was quite the same. I've heard gold, food, water, but brick was new."

"You've heard this before?"

"My college thesis was a theoretical onmimatter alchemist machine. The idea that all things could be broken down into atoms and recreated as anything else. The silly idea has followed me throughout my career, but I welcome the publicity."

"So what did you tell Bowser?"

"The same thing I tell everyone: it's not possible. You would need a power source, a way to channel that source, and subsequently have a way to stabilize that source without it blowing up in your face and vaporizing you. Not even the strongest of the arcane comes close."

"Okay...what if someone could do that?"

"Well, according to the completely theoretical blueprints I left, have at it?"

Peach was just as puzzled as Elvin was. Why brick? What would he do with a ton of brick?

A month later, Elvin walked into the meeting room of Peach's Castle for the morning briefing. Even the rush of air from opening the door was...different. Peach at the head of the table, Toadsworth and Toad flanking her. Everyone looked at him differently. He gladly broke eye contact, examining his watch to see if he was late, even though he knew he was seven minutes early.

"Elvin," Peach didn't even let him sit down. "Things with the Koopas have been getting a little...hotter, recently. We talked about it and it's been decided: I want to convert ROBs for military use."

"Uhh..." Elvin checked his watch again, because it was far too early to be listening to...whatever that was.

"Well, good morning to all of you, too! Heheheh." The chair gave out a long, groaning creak grinding against the floor. "Those were certainly words that you just said. I'm not the biggest fan of the way you arranged them in a sentence."

Toad slammed his hands on the table "Oh, look whose acting so cavalier about this, Mr. Too-Old-To-Do-The-Fighting!'' He shot a glance at Toadsworth. "No offense."

"Some taken."

Peach sighed. About as well of a response as she could hope for. But, this isn't up for negotiation. "Elvin, who obtained the materials for you that enabled you to mass-produce the ROBs. you have?"

"Okay Peach, you did, but-"

"And I paid rather highly for it because you had so much faith in your idea. I'm not even asking you to change the ones always developed. Set material aside for defense-oriented ROBs. I've gotten reports from ambassadors that the Koopas are stockpiling arms and running more military exercises. War isn't what we want, Elvin, but it's what we need to prepare for."

Toadsworth took the time to sip his morning tea. "I'm sure everything will work itself out in the end. Bowser is nothing but a bully, and the best way to beat a bully is to stand up to him. We simply need a show of force. Walk softly and carry a big stalk."

A show of force. The words rang through Elvin's mind, blocking out the echo of his footsteps echoing through the lab. Toadworth was right. The only thing a person like Bowser ever respected was power. And Peach was far more powerful that 'ole Mumpsback would like to admit. Bowser's fire was impressive, but it came from within his body. Peach's fire came from her soul; she harbored a far vaster supply than what Bowser could muster on his best day. The frustrating part, however, was Peach never humbled the lummox by displaying her superior power in public. "I can't make him look bad in front of his own people. Bad for the stability of both of us. It's fine. He knows his place."

However, his mind harked back to the demonstrations. Peach's callous mirth at the sight of the weaponized R. tearing through the testing walls. Far too much malicious desire to be mere theatrics. How did Peach suddenly adopt such malignant cruelty? She—she had to have had her reasons.

Still, it was best if he was the only person that could activate the weaponized ROBs. Like the commercial ROBs, the military ones all hand built-in safety switches so they couldn't run rampant. However, there was an extra layer of protection added to the militarized robots. He had created tiny devices called sappers and had them built into every single military ROB. They would rapidly drain the energy of the ROB, rendering them useless in seconds. The only way to turn off sappers was to activate a signal in the lab, which could only be done by using a key, which could only be obtained by getting from a secret compartment in the science lab. And he was the only person that knew any of this. Genius!

Still, maybe he was underestimating Bowser. After all, he did pull off that stunt with the gorilla.

A show of force.

The OTTOs were designed as a non-lethal way to takedown King Koopa himself. Sounding him with so many targets at once Flooding his eyes with light intensity and ears with hundreds of decibels. An entire swarm of these robots hounding bowser down all by themselves, as well as using sound waves to put out his fires. When Peach was still struggling to use her power, he saw it as a chance for field testing. But, heavens, he forgot to disable their attack protocols. They almost gave her an embolism, she didn't hear properly for days. Once Peach had her Soulfire under wraps, Toad had pushed him to dismantle the OTTOs altogether. Something else told him to seal them away in his lab: one never knew when an anti-Bowser weapon could be useful. If he showed them to Peach, maybe she would share what was bothering her.

"R.O.B, retrieve the OTTOs from storage, please."

As R.O.B. moved away, a flash of light appeared in the middle of the room, quickly expanding outwards. Elvin turned around just in time to be blinded. Shielding his eyes as best he could, Elvin tried to peek through the light. "Who goes there?!"

It was Peach, emerging from the flash. "Hello...Elvin."

With the light dying down, Elvin could finally see Peach...carrying a body?!

"Peach, who is that?! Where did you just come from?! Do you even know what time is is?!"

"I don't know. They're from Link's world. They met a Bit user." Her body was flashing red.

"Peach, you're overheating!"

As Peach's arms gave out, Elvin desperately tried to catch whoever this was that was twice his size and was instantly squashed on the floor for his effort.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just needed someplace to put them for a while. I'm exhausted. I'm going to bed."

"Peach wait." Elvin scrambled to his feet. What is going on?! Things are getting more sporadic! I feel like I'm missing something. Please, you can tell me anything. Always!"

"Elvin...I'm really tired."

"We'll talk later, I promise."

"..Okay. Rest well."

Peach nodded, before retreating into the light.

Elvin sat back in his chair, looking at the space Peach occupied just a few seconds before, and then the body she left behind.

"I hope you'll be amicable when you wake up, but I have a strong feeling you won't."

R.O.B. was returning with a large container simply marked 'O', dropping it at Elvin's feet, waiting for the next command.

"R.O.B. could you please lay our new guest on the workbench in the physics lab? And prepare them some mushroom soup for when they wake up. In the meantime," Elvin pulled the blueprints out of the container. "Let me see how I can give these things an upgrade."

Satellite's gone

Up to the skies

Things like that drive me

Out of my mind