Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story.
BGM: Rogueport (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"Man, that train should be coming at any moment, right?"
"I believe so…"
"Attention: The Excess Express has had an unfortunate derailment and your trip has been delayed indefinitely. We apologize for your inconvenience."
"Aww!" The whole crowd groaned.
"AHA! I CALLED IT! I KNEW THE EXCESS EXPRESS WAS A DEATH TRAP BUT NOOOO, YOU NEVER BELIEVED ME!" A Toad yelled. "HA HA! YOU THOUGHT MY CRIPPLING FEAR OF TRAINS WAS STUPID, BUT WHO'S LAUGHING NOW! VINDICATION, BABY!"
"Hey, what's that?"
"It looks… draconic and purple!"
"Huh?"
They would all turn to see Eternatus flying directly toward them.
"AAAAAAH! IT'S THE DRAGON OF THE APOCALYPSE! RUN FOR YOUR LIIIIIVES!"
All the train goers quickly ran away in terror as Eternatus landed on the ground where everyone else hopped off, then Gloria put Eternatus in a Beast Ball.
"Geez, it's like they've never seen an Eternatus before…" Gloria said. "If ye need me, I'll be around."
"Okay." Bea nodded as they headed for the Thousand Year Door.
"We know they're in space, but the problem is, we don't know where the last Crystal Star is at." Sora said.
"Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling the last Crystal Star is up there." Noire said.
"You think so?" Koops asked.
"I mean, it could be entirely possible." She shrugged.
"Say, wasn't Vivian in cahoots with them for a bit?" Bobbery wondered.
"I was, but I don't think Beldam ever told me about the X-Nauts having a Crystal Star. She always left me in the dark." Vivian sighed.
"Aw, cheer up. They have a red herring." Aerith smiled.
"Yeah!" Sora grinned.
"Heh, fair enough." Vivian nodded.
"How have you two come into contact with this friend?" Bea asked.
"Oh, we've been on a few adventures with her. Heck, Bowser took Peach to space one time." Luigi said. "And then we met her."
Mario smiled. "Mhm. She helped us travel through space."
"Fascinating… I like that." Bea said as they went into the Warp Pipe.
End BGM
BGM: Hall of the Thousand Year Door (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
Once they got to the Thousand Year Door, Mario hopped onto the pedestal while Bobbery looked at the door.
"I swear, those cracks got bigger."
"Now that you mention it… you're right." Bea nodded.
"I wonder if it's weakening." Aerith wondered aloud as the light show began as they all turned toward Mario as the map floated back into the plumber's hands as they all took a look, and they would see a fortress popping directly on the moon.
"...Well, I'll be damned." Noire said.
"Sweet, we're goin' to the moon!" Nocturne said as they all started to walk off while Luigi pulled out his phone.
"Hi, Rosie? We're gonna need you for a sec."
End BGM
Once at Frankly's…
BGM: Professor Frankly (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
"My word! The Excess Express derailed?!" Frankly exclaimed. "Amazing how you survived!"
"Yeah… I'm still wondering how we all survived that." Luigi said.
"Talk about a wild ride. Did anyone else die?" Goombella asked.
"Aside from potentially the train engineer's pants… everyone survived." Noire said.
"That's good!" Frankly smiled. "Now then, about how you get to the moon, this is quite perplexing."
"I've heard there's a cannon out at the Fahr Outpost…" Goombella said. "Perhaps you can go there?"
"That sounds extremely dangerous!" Sora said.
"Ah, where's your sense of adventure? I've been in cannons all the time." Mario chuckled.
"You have?"
"Yeah!"
"I can confirm, he has. …Koopa the Quick did not like that though." Luigi said, causing Mario to sweatdrop.
"Well, in any case, I'm sure you could-"
End BGM
Suddenly, the whole place rumbled. "What in blazes? Earthquake?"
BGM: Behold A Pale Horse (Halo 3) (Start at 1:30)
"What's going on?" Sora asked.
"I think that's her." Mario said as they walked outside to see a comet coming in before it suddenly turned upright. As it did, a massive gust followed and pushed everything away. Bricks, flowers, Bandits, Goombas, Toads, doors off of their hinges, shingles off of the rooftops, the walls between Eastern, Western and Central Rogueport came tumbling down as not even the heroes were spared from the almighty gusts.
The comet had turned into an Observatory as it gently came down, crushing the gallows underneath its might. The Observatory then came to a stop as it hit the ground as everyone stared at the almighty presence of the Comet Observatory.
End BGM
BGM: Rosalina in the Observatory 3 (Super Mario Galaxy)
"Talk about making an entrance!" Bea said.
"And making a mess of things." Noire mumbled as several Pull Stars popped into existence for everyone as Mario and Luigi eagerly jumped into the Pull Stars as they pulled them up, while the others hesitantly did so and were pulled up toward the Observatory.
"Waaaaaaaaah!" Noire yelped as she faceplanted. "Oooow…" She groaned while everyone else landed on their feet, although Vivian came up from underneath the ground.
"Hello everyone." Rosalina greeted warmly.
"...Holy…" Bea stared on in awe with a slight blush. Mmmph! You're into Korrina… You're into Korrina…
"Whoa…" Noire jawdropped.
"Goodness!" Koops said, blushing a deep red.
"She's pretty!" Nocturne said.
Dang, she's prettier than Kairi! …WHY DID I THINK THAT?! Sora thought.
"Heya Rosie." Mario waved.
Rosalina smiled. "Mario. Luigi. Good to see you." She said, wrapping them in for a hug as she looked at everyone else. "Oh, who are your friends?"
"Sora!"
"K-K-K-Koops."
"Vivian."
"Admiral Bobbery."
"I… I'm uh… Nocturne! Yes! That's who I am."
"Aerith, nice to meet ya~!"
"Noire. Pleasure to meet you."
"Uh… I'm… Bea-kins… no! I mean, just Bea." Bea stammered. Goodness, she's attractive!
Rosalina giggled. "A pleasure to meet you all. I am Rosalina, the protector of the cosmos. I had received a call from Luigi asking for assistance. I would have been here earlier, but… I got a bit sidetracked."
"You? Sidetracked?" Luigi raised an eyebrow. "What caused you to get sidetracked?"
"Well…" Rosalina turned her head to some Lumas playing with some orbs. "Those… orb things requested help."
"Ow! Ow! Watch where you're throwing me, mate!"
"Space stars! Ooooh, I love space stars as much as I love spaaaaaaaaaace!"
"I believe they called themselves Wheatley and Space Core." Rosalina shrugged.
"Eh, a little detour never hurt anyone." Mario shrugged.
"Indeed. So, what do you need me for?"
"We're looking for these things known as the Crystal Stars." Sora explained, showing them off to her.
"Oooh…" Rosalina curiously looked at them. "I can feel immense power from them." She looked at the Diamond Star. "The power of the earth." She turned to the Emerald Star. "The power of time." Then to the Gold Star. "The power of strength." To the Ruby star. "The power of Art." She then looked at the Sapphire Star. "The power of healing from food." And then to the Garnet Star. "The power of crushing weak enemies."
Rosalina closed her eyes. "All of these have great power… best not to be used in the wrong hands."
"Yeah, the last one is on the moon." Mario said.
"Of all places?" Rosalina smiled. "Oh, I can easily take you there."
"Yeah, that's also where a few of our friends are at." Aerith explained. "Peach and Kairi are held hostage there."
Rosalina's eyes widened, her smile disappearing. "I do not know about this Kairi, but Peach is up there? Is Bowser making a third attempt at an intergalactic conquest?"
"Third?" Most of them quietly mouthed.
"No. It's some faction called the X-Nauts. They're planning on world domination."
"Hmm, charming." Rosalina said with a hint of sarcasm. "Very well. I will take you to the moon and rescue your friends."
End BGM
Rosalina raised her wand up in the air, firing a beam of light from it as it flew toward the top of the Observatory and converted it into a comet once more.
BGM: Grand Star Rescue (Super Mario Galaxy)
"Here we go." Rosalina said as the Observatory launched into the air, although given the force from the launch, it was enough to accidentally level the entire inn and Zess T's house, leaving Toadsworth by himself as rubble got into his tea.
"I say, what was that?!"
The Observatory launched out of the planet's atmosphere. "Whooooa!" Sora said in awe, seeing that he was in space. I'll never get tired of this! He thought as the Observatory made its way toward the moon.
At the X-Naut Fortress…
"Grodus! We have a situation!" An X-Naut exclaimed. "There's a comet approaching the fortress!"
"Oh? It must be the heroes… wait, did you say a comet?"
"Yes."
"So the legends are true then. The Cosmic Princess is real! Let's give her a nice warm welcome. Fire the main cannons!"
On the surface of the moon, laser cannons rose out of hatches as they aimed and fired at the Observatory and started firing.
"Uh, we got a problem!" Koops exclaimed.
"Not to worry, nothing can penetrate the forcefield. Although-" Rosalina aimed her wand. "It would be quite boring if I didn't make an entrance." She said.
As the laser cannons fired, meteors and comets came crashing down on the cannons, obliterating them with ease as a rail gun came out a few moments later, unleashing powerful blasts onto the Observatory, only a larger comet destroyed it.
"That Observatory is quite the formidable opponent! Hmph! Let them come."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." Grodus nodded as the Observatory came to a stop just near the entrance of the X-Naut Fortress. Once they did, the entrance opened up as X-Nauts came charging out.
"Uh oh. We got a problem!" Nocturne said.
"You guys go into the fortress." Rosalina summoned a Launch Star. "I'll deal with these."
"Are you sure?" Noire asked.
"Absolutely." Rosalina smiled and with a nod, everyone hopped into the Launch Star and launched away while Rosalina raised her wand in the air, her dress disappearing and was replaced by a black T-Shirt and jeans as she jumped down. "No need to get my dress all filthy."
"TAKE HER! SHE'S ONLY ONE WOMAN!" An X-Naut yelled.
"I'll make you see just what truly makes me the protector of the cosmos." Rosalina said as a cosmic aura surrounded her and a light blue flame came out of her hand. "Shall we waltz under the stars~?"
End BGM
BGM: X-Naut Fortress (Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door)
THUD!
"MMMPH!" Bea grunted as she was on her knees.
"Ooooow… I think my ankles shattered…" Noire whimpered.
"What was that? I can't hear you from the whiplash…" Koops groaned.
Sora was flat on his back. "Oh yeah, let's just launch out of a star and not think about the bones in our feet shattering upon impact. Well thought out!"
"Were we like this?" Luigi asked as he and Mario were perfectly fine.
"I… don't think so."
"Hey!" A voice said as they saw some Elite X-Nauts walking up to them. "No one's allowed in here!"
"Yeah! Get lost!"
The Mario Bros glanced at each other and with a nod, the two took out their hammers and then clobbered the Elite X-Nauts without much effort, which was just about enough time for the others to collect their bearings.
"Wait a second… I didn't hear Vivian complaining!" Nocturne said.
"I don't have feet." Vivian pointed out. "That said, it did knock the wind out of me."
"...Okay, fair."
"Alright, let's go save the girls!" Sora said as they quickly took off.
Some X-Nauts charged at the group, but Sora AirStepped between them and slashed them as Noire's sword caught ablaze and fire slashed at some Yuxes that came to aid them, while Aerith used a Thundaga spell on a scientist X-Naut's potion, causing int to explode and taking him out.
"Koops, buy us some time! Call up the elevator!" Bea told him as she palm striked an Elite X-Naut in the face.
"You got it!" Koops ran up to the elevator and tried to press a button.
"Elevator key required"
"Huh?!" Koops pressed it again.
"Elevator key required"
"Oh, that's a load of… guys! We need an elevator key just to get through this place!"
"Hmhmhmhm~" Vivian giggled after using Fiery Jinx on a few X-Nauts. "Who said we need an elevator key~?" She smiled and then one by one, she started dragging everyone down a floor.
"Yagh! I'm… still not used to that!" Noire said.
"You're welcome!" VIvian smiled as they ran off, as Luigi spotted a vent as he climbed in as Mario climbed in with him while everyone else took care of the forces.
"Maybe we'll drop in on the girls and surprise Grodus." Luigi said.
"Yeah!" Mario nodded as they crawled through until they found an opening as they opened up the hatch as they jumped straight down… into the changing room.
Pause BGM
"Um… Mario?"
"Yes?"
"I feel a bit weird!"
"Ah… I'm sure you're just overreacting."
The curtains opened up… to reveal Mario and Luigi in 8-Bit form.
BGM: Overworld Theme (Super Mario Bros)
Luigi jumped up to get Mario's attention. Mario turned around and nearly jumped back in surprise to see Luigi in 8-Bit form, but Luigi pointed to Mario as he looked down and jumped up in surprise.
"Do do do do~" An X-Naut walked in and saw the 8-Bit bros. "...Huh! I really gotta lay off the Chuckola Cola."
The bros proceeded to jump on him. "Ow! Ooof! Yow! Yagh! Gah!" He yelped as points popped above him.
100 Points, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000…
Immediately, an Ultra Mushroom landed near the Bros as they both hopped off of the X-Naut as he fell unconscious. "Uuuuugh… yup… gotta lay off the Chuckola Cola…"
Mario immediately snagged the Ultra Mushroom as they walked out.
End BGM
Resume X-Naut Fortress BGM
"Back to normal! …Somehow." Mario said.
"Woo… talk about a nostalgia trip." Luigi rubbed his head as they went off to catch up with the others as Bea kicked open the door to Grodus's lair.
"Buh… buh… buh huh huh huh huh!"
End BGM
"You're too late!" Crump laughed.
"...Really? This guy?" Sora said boredly.
"How are we too late", you might ask? It's simple! Peach and Kairi are no longer in this fortress! They've been taken away to the Thousand Year Door!"
"Yeah right, you need at least the Crystal Stars in order to open that bad boy open!" Aerith pointed out.
"Buh huh huh huh huh! What if I told you the seal has been severely weakened that you can just… waltz right into it without needing the Crystal Stars? The timing is so perfect!"
"Riiiiight, I'll believe it when I see it!" Noire said.
"As for Grodus? He's currently keeping your cosmic friend company." Crump pulled out a button. "Now as for me… BEHOLD!" He pushed a button as Magnus Von Grapple landed on the ground, now decked out in a blue body with green stripes. "Magnus Von Grapple 3.0! Now with buttons PROPERLY labeled! Now watch as I-"
Suddenly, Magnus Von Grapple turned around. "Eh? …Huh, did I accidentally put in an autopilot feature?" He wondered as Lightning popped her head out the window.
"I'll take over."
"Buh wha?! Oh, I see, Thunderbolt! You want to take this for a test drive?"
"Yes."
"Alriiiiight! Now kick those fools into submission!"
"As you wish." Lightning nodded as Magnus Von Grapple pulled back its foot.
"Buh huh huh huh. Time for your dirt nap on the moon!" Crump rubbed his hands mischievously.
POW!
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" Crump yelled as he was kicked out of the fortress. "NOT ME YOU IDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!"
Ding!
Lightning pressed the self-destruct button and ejected out of the mech, where it exploded shortly after. "We need to leave. Now."
"Wait, shouldn't we fight you first?" Koops asked.
"Grodus thought he could brainwash me a second time. Honestly, after that first brainwashing, you tend to gain an immunity toward it." She said, picking up the Crystal Star. "I believe this belongs to you guys."
Meanwhile…
"I must admit. You are a formidable opponent." Grodus said, dusting his shoulder as Rosalina had her wand pointed at him. "I wonder if I could use you as a pawn for the Shadow Queen instead."
"You want to use me as a pawn for your childish dreams? Don't be so absurd. I'm no one's pawn."
"I figured you would have said that!" Grodus said, raising his staff up in the air and fired bolts of lightning at her, but Rosalina put her hand up as she manipulated the lightning to go around her. She then fired cosmic bolts of lightning herself, which he blocked with Grodus X's protecting him.
"You must be quite a fool for even toying with the idea that you could possibly corrupt me."
"Ah, but just think of the possibilities! When I awaken the Shadow Queen, I will have her be under my rule!"
"So you wish to command around a being of pure darkness?"
"Yes!"
"I see several flaws in that plan."
"Enlighten me!" Grodus said, shooting a beam of ice at her which she promptly countered with cosmic fire.
"For starters, there is a very good reason why this being of pure darkness was sealed away in the first place. If you seal up an ancient beast that is hellbent on destroying the world, then why would they even bother to listen to you? Second of all-" She threw down a comet at Grodus which he blocked with a shield, yet the Grodus X's were destroyed. "-If you plan on wanting it to serve you, then you better come up with a counterplan because chances are, it will find a way to make you serve it. Or worse… certain death."
"GACK ACK ACK ACK! That is such nonsense! The Shadow Queen will rise and destroy everything under my command! And with you by my side, I will conquer the world!"
Rosalina sighed boredly. "I take back what I said about you being a fool. You are, by far, the biggest cosmically brain dead fool that I've taken you for. You aren't just a cosmic clown, you're the entire cosmic circus."
"And you are a fool as well if you think I am truly here." Grodus said. "I will be waiting for your answer in the Palace of Shadow, where Peach and Kairi are by my side!"
Rosalina smirked. "I already knew that I was fighting a projection. I just felt the need to humor you." She said as Grodus disappeared before her. She immediately closed her eyes. "Everyone, can you hear me?"
With the heroes…
"Ack! What the heck was that?!" Sora exclaimed in surprise.
"Sounds like telepathy." Noire said.
"We can hear you, Rosie. What's up?" Mario asked.
"Peach and Kairi have been taken to the Palace of Shadow. The Grodus that I had fought was nothing more than a holo-projection. He is waiting for you all."
"Well, we could take the teleporter… unfortunately, Grodus destroyed it after he used it." Lightning explained.
"Shoot, that's right… they had a teleporter." Vivian mumbled.
"Let us be off." Bobbery said. "We must get to the Palace of Shadow before-"
Suddenly, the area turned red. "Huh?" Bobbery wondered.
At the Palace of Shadow…
BGM: The Big Staircase (Super Mario Galaxy)
"Enjoy your dirt nap on the moon." Grodus said, having pressed a button while Kairi and Peach were hanging by cages tied to the ceiling.
Back on the moon…
"Shit…" Lightning cursed under her breath. "He's planning on blowing up the base and taking us with it!" She said as everything shuttered around them.
"That's not good!" Sora said.
"Not… if… I can help it!"
Suddenly, some of the shutters opened up. "Huh?" Nocturne wondered.
"There isn't much time… hurry…!"
"Wait, is that TEC?" Mario asked.
"I'm using my remaining power to… get you back home… hurry! And… tell Peach and Kairi I… cherished the moments we've had together…"
"Will do." Lightning nodded as they took off running as the elevator opened up as everyone went inside, and the elevator swiftly shot up to the top floor as they hopped out and quickly ran toward the entrance as TEC opened up the door for them as everyone ran out, but Mario stopped and looked behind.
"Is there a chance we can save you?"
"No… I've served my purpose… now… go…"
Mario nodded. "Thank you for keeping our friends company." He said, tipping his hat to him as he ran off.
"You're welcome…"
Rosalina quickly brought everyone on board as the Observatory turned itself into a comet and quickly blasted off back to Rogueport.
End BGM
"Farewell… everyone…"
The X-Naut Fortress started to light up behind the Observatory.
Meanwhile, with Bowser…
"So… let me get this straight!" Bowser said. "You mean to tell me that a train crashed on its way here. Mario and pals got the real Crystal Star… AND THIS THING I'M HOLDING IS A DAMN RED HERRING?!"
"That is correct." Pennington nodded as Bowser threw the Crystal Star down in frustration, shattering it upon impact.
"AAAAAAARGH! HOW IS IT WE'VE BEEN BAMBOOZLED AT EVERY TURN!"
Most of it is your fault… Kammy thought.
"Lord Bowser!" A voice called out as a Paragoomba came flying in. "We have news! We just received word that the Mario Bros and their friends have all the Crystal Stars and are heading toward the Thousand Year Door as we speak! Also, there's a slight possibility that Peach is being held hostage in there."
Bowser snarled. "Very well! Let's give 'em a proper greeting. Koopa Troop! Old Pirate! Let's move!" He said, pressing a button as his airship came out from a portal as they all hopped on and flew off toward Rogueport.
Meanwhile, in the Pit of 100 Trials…
"Hah… hah… THAT took longer than expected." Yusuke said as Bonetail lay defeated.
"Felt like hours…" Makoto said.
"Really…? It felt like a year." Ryuji panted, on his back.
"At least we defeated him." Akira said as Futaba walked over to a chest that Bonetail coughed up and opened it up.
"...What the crap? We came all this way for this?" Futaba pulled out the Return Postage badge. "I don't even know what this is and I'm annoyed!" She tossed it behind her. "Laaaame."
"Alright…" Akira stood up. "We finished up the Pit of 100 Trials. Now let's go." He said as they walked into a Warp Pipe and walked out, all of them eating Ultra Mushrooms to perk them back up.
Once they got out, they looked at the Thousand Year Door, noticing that it was slightly open. "...You guys want to take a look?" Akira asked.
"If it's better than a damp cave… I'm all for it." Ann responded as they all walked toward the Thousand Year Door.
A race toward Grodus! Who's gonna get there first? The heroes? Bowser? The Phantom Thieves? Only time will tell!
Ibuki: It's gonna be exciting~!