StarlitDuck

Yeah. This might be Luigi's first glimpse into seeing that ghosts aren't all bad.

LiamTheYoshi

Thank you! I'm pumping a few out.

Mario's friends heads did not become planets. They are just likeness cameos based on the "Yoshi's Unexpected Appearance" mission.

That similarity wasn't intended, but I like your comparison!

nintendoscript15

I guess Sling Pod Galaxy is responsible for that range. Good thing this mechanic didn't return in Galaxy 2.

You know, that is interesting to think about. Tarantox doesn't actually have a gender, so I made her female.

Vivian actually inspired Bootrix's creation! We'll see how Luigi and Bootrix's relationship goes.

KazamaFam2006

Thanks for the offer, but I'm not really interested. Not all ghosts are all that bad. Some are just sad and lonely. Morty was my favorite ghost from Luigi's Mansion 3 because of his friendliness! Those who chose to capture him are just heartless!

Next, we're headed to Battlerock Galaxy!

Amethyst Goldenwind

It's true. Beauty exists within, and that's what really matters. Also, Bootrix isn't truly ugly like her sisters say. She's just rather plain looking compared to her sisters, but is still kinda cute.

FairyTalePrincess16

Thanks! I figured it'd be a good match. Let's see how Luigi and Bootrix's relationship goes.

Nataly Guardado

Hey, I don't blame you. Smash is a great game! Have fun! I've been posting the last few chapters quickly, so it's understandable that you missed them.

I know, right? And to think you originally called Bootrix a terrible person when I first introduced her. Vivian was the direct inspiration for her.

Chapter 19: Battlerock Barrage

Ghostly Galaxy

[BGM: Mario on Trial (Movie) - Super Mario Sunshine (Timestamp: 1:22)]

Luigi was telling Bootrix about his many adventures over the years, as well as his brother Mario.

"Wow! Your life sounds very exhilarating! I'm actually kinda jealous. You have it pretty easy compared to me," Bootrix complimented.

"Well, I did. I was supposed to celebrate the Star Festival, an event that only happens every hundred years, with my bro." he described. "But then Bowser went all out and took Peach's entire castle, and Mario was blasted away into outer space. Me and my friends tried to escape, but Bowser caught us, and his assistant, Kamek, sent us all away. And well… now I'm here, as you can see. I don't know where my friends are, but I hope they're okay. And I hope Mario is still alive out there… somewhere…"

Bootrix was shedding a few ghostly plasma tears. "I'm so sorry that happened. I feel terrible for scaring you earlier now."

"Don't worry about it. I see you're not so bad now," Luigi forgave.

"But your brother sounds really nice. I wish my sisters were as nice to me as he is to you," said Bootrix.

"What's the deal with those two anyways?" Luigi interrogated. "I saw how they mistreated you. My brother and I can fight sometimes, but he never outright insults me! Your sisters were just downright nasty!"

Bootrix grew a glum expression. "I was afraid you'd ask that. I never had a good relationship with Boothany and Boolinda. They always belittled me, even in life. They cared more about fame, beauty, and riches than the more cherished things in life like loved ones."

"What was your life like before you… well… became a ghost?" Luigi asked with curiosity.

"It was better than this afterlife. That's for sure," Bootrix responded with crossed arms. "By the way, I'm sure you've met that stone creature who took you in here, right?"

"You mean that creepy stone hand with the unsettling voice?! Don't remind me!" he shivers.

"Well, he wasn't always that way. That was my ex-boyfriend, Rocky. Or as he's now known, Bouldergeist," explained Bootrix. "You see, this galaxy wasn't always so gloomy and haunted as it is today. When me and my sisters were alive, it was our school. Let me tell you the whole story."

*FLASHBACK Circa 200 years ago*

[BGM: Toad Town - Paper Mario]

My name was Goombeatrix. Me and my sisters were Goombas who attended Andromeda High. It was an all universal school. My sisters were really popular and dated rich boys. I wasn't really interested in popularity or riches. I just wanted to have friends, which I wasn't good at making.

One day, I noticed a little Koopa outside in the courtyard. His face was smudged with dirt, as was his shirt. He was on his knees and using a garden spade to dig through the grass. He was smiling to himself, humming a chirpy little tune.

I couldn't help but stare at him. Something about that koopa just seemed so authentic. So...loveable. His smile was as bright as a Class 1 star. I felt happy just staring at it.

"Goombeatrix, what are you doing?"

I turned and saw Goombethany. She had that sneer on her face that was so typical of her. She directed her eyes over to the Koopa who I had been staring at. She snickered.

"Don't tell me that you're staring at Rocky."

"Rocky?"

"Yeah. That's Rocky J. Koops. He's in my homeroom class." She snorted at him. "He has his head so far up in the clouds that he can't even come back down."

I looked back over at Rocky. He reached into the hole he had dug and pulled out a rock. He laughed giddily.

"Sweet! Limestone!" He reached into his hammerspace and pulled out a magnifying glass. "What a beautiful specimen, too!"

I smiled and giggled. I could feel my face growing warm. Goombethany smirked.

"What? You don't...like him, do you?"

I didn't listen. Before I knew what was happening, I willed my feet to go forward. Goombethany called out to me, but I hardly heard her. I just had to get to that Koopa. I just had to go up to him and say...

"Hey!"

Rocky looked up at me with a grin so goofy and pleased.

"Hey! Would you like to look for rocks with me?"

I laughed and nodded.

"Sure!"

That was how I met the love of my life. He was so sweet! He'd show me his rock collection, he'd give me flowers, and he'd always be nice to me, unlike SOME people I knew… I dated him for a year, up until my sisters caught wind of it. They didn't like my relationship one bit.

[BGM: Fight Against an Armed Boss - Super Mario RPG]

"Goombeatrix, we need to talk about your boyfriend." Goombethany spoke in a nonchalant manner

"If you're gonna judge me for who I love, then you can forget it!" I retorted.

"LOVE?! You have the worst taste in men I've ever seen!" yelled Goombelina.

"Listen sister, we have a rule in this family. We only date popular and rich boys, not peasant nobodies!" Goombethany added.

"Rocky is not a nobody! He's the kindest person I have ever met! You two don't date men for love! You date 'em so that you can take all the money outta their pockets until they run out and you ditch 'em!" I argued.

"We don't care how much you 'love' him! Ditch him and date a REAL man!" ordered Goombelinda.

"He IS a real man! You'll never understand!" I refused.

"Have it your way Goombeatrix, but know this! We'll make sure you RUE the day you ever met him! RUE IT!" my oldest sister threatened. Then they walked away. I was left feeling sad and… empty inside. I then approached my boyfriend.

[BGM end]

"What's wrong, sugarplum?" he asked with my cute nickname.

"My sisters want us to… break up," I said with tears.

"What?! Why?!"

"They think you're just a nobody. They want me to date rich men." I explained.

"Hmph. Figures. Well, don't listen to them! From what you've told me, they don't seem to care about you nearly as much as I do. They just don't understand our love," he advised me.

I swept up my tears. "Y-You're right…"

"That's the spirit! Here! Have a drink!" He gave me a bottle of water, and he took one out for himself. We both took sips and had a good time. Soon, he had to go to the bathroom and I took him there, leaving our drinks behind. When we got back, Rocky took another sip, but strangely, he began shaking violently in his seat.

"Rocky? You okay?" I felt concerned.

"I… feel… funny…" He suddenly fell to the floor, and I screamed in immense worry. I saw Goombethany and Goombelinda laughing nearby and grew furious. I knew they had something to do with this!

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!" I screamed in fury.

"Oh, we figured that since he loves rocks so much, that we'd turn him into one," said Goombethany as Goombelinda took out a rock spell potion. I recognized that potion! That was a potion from my science teacher, Mr. Merlin's class. Those were strictly forbidden! How did my sisters get one of those?!

"Wh-Where and how did you get that?!"

[BGM: Kingfin - Super Mario Galaxy]

But they didn't answer. Instead, I had to watch poor Rocky's eyes glow yellow. His Koopa body turned into a black mass of smoke with two glowing yellow eyes. Said mass gravitationally attracted all the rocks in his collection along with some rocks floating in space to form a monstrous stone body along with two stone hands. This… was not the Rocky I grew to love.

"Rocky?" I called out in hesitation.

"MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" he laughed. "I am not Rocky anymore, mortal! I am Bouldergeist, King of all cobble and stone, and soon to be king of this GALAXYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Rocky, now known as Bouldergeist, rampaged all over the galaxy, killing everyone in his path, the teachers, students, and even my sisters, who definitely did not intend for this. I knew I had to stand up to this… monster! So I tried to take him down… but how could I…? Why would I fight the man I'm supposed to love.

Before I knew it, the world grew into darkness... And I woke up, dead.

[BGM end]

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

[BGM: Mario on Trial (Movie) - Super Mario Sunshine (Timestamp: 1:22)]

"Bouldergeist cursed this galaxy and now rules it with an iron, or rather stone fist, sending poor unfortunate souls who end up here to be tortured by the boos he's killed in the past, then be disposed of and become one of his slaves. Me and my sisters are among the souls he's enslaved. And while they've come to enjoy harassing innocent people, I don't. I only pretend to enjoy it because I don't want Bouldergeist to give me a severe punishment. I just…" Bootrix's eyes end up leaking ghostly plasma like a shower head. "I know that deep down, the Rocky-poo I know and love is in there suffering. But on the outside, he'll never be the same again! That's why I've been trying to fall in love with my victims to move on, but they just don't feel the same! I want to put Rocky out of his misery, but I'm afraid to approach him and get beaten up again!"

Luigi was tearing up just as much from hearing all this. For the first time, he truly showed sympathy for the one thing he feared the most, and wanted to give this girl a hug.

"I… I… don't know what to… That's… That's horrible! You never deserved that! Your sisters are worse than I thought… I'm sorry!" Luigi cried.

"You don't have to be sorry. Your brother's probably gonna come and save you, assuming he's still alive. Meanwhile, I'm stuck to this fate for all eternity," Bootrix said.

Luigi grew determined and stood up triumphantly. "No! You don't deserve to be glued to this fate! You and Rocky have been suffering long enough! I'm going to free you both from this… this prison! You can count on me!" Luigi held out his hand. Bootrix hesitantly shook it with a smile.

"Th-Thank you."

[BGM end]

Bowser's Star Reactor

[BGM: Angry Bowser - Paper Mario]

Both Bowser and AP had finished constructing their second base galaxy, and witnessed Mario and Aster defeat Tarantox through Kamek's magic.

"Looks like the trap didn't work out as expected," said AP.

"Unfortunately yes," Bowser said. "Those two are tough. And something about that Aster fella is really bothering me. I don't know what, though."

AP received a call from his receiver and answered it. Topmaniac's hologram popped up.

"ALPHA PANDORA, WE NEED YOU BACK HERE AT THE BATTLEROCK. THE PLUMBER AND INVENTOR ARE ON THEIR WAY HERE AS WE SPEAK."

"Understood." He hung up.

"So, you heading out?" Bowser assumed. "Well then, give that Mario a real beat down when you encounter him. Good luck!"

"I will. Best of luck to you as well, Lord Bowser," Alpha Pandora said before vanishing through a portal.

"I can't wait to see the look on that plumber's face once he sees that his best friend is under my control! BWAHAHAHAHA!" the evil king laughed in triumph.

[BGM end]

Comet Observatory

[BGM: Rosalina in the Observatory 1 - Super Mario Galaxy]

The two protagonists were back in their home base once again. They were talking to Jeff T. about the kidnapping.

"Wait, so can you describe this toadnapper of yours again?" Aster interrogated.

"He was super weird," Jeff began. "He was some sort of kid with a lifeless white eye, the other being a laser eye. And he had all sorts of armor and gadgets and… stuff… But I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. It's just not ringing to me."

"Hmm… Sounds like a foe we'll have to face at some point. Mario, let's be prepared for the worst," Aster warned.

He received a nod from Mario, who grew a discomforting feeling from this description, but decided not to think too hard on it. Rosalina approached them, looking more elated than usual. Did she have some good news to share?

"Oh good! You're back! Mario, I think you're going to like this. I believe we might've found one of your missing friends."

This was enough to make Mario's eyes sparkle brighter than a million Power Stars. This WAS good news indeed!

"Woohoo! Alright! Where are they?!" Mario impatiently demanded.

[BGM: Space Fantasy - Super Mario Galaxy]

The monitor behind them showed them a display of a massive brown space rock surrounded by silver UFOs, and mechanically equipped with defense systems such as cannons and electric lines. The space background was green and filled with stars. A very massive yellow cloudy planet took up most of the sky.

"That's the Battlerock Galaxy. Located just 12 light years from here. It's one of the most advanced galaxies in the universe. But it's also heavily guarded, with cannon, electric barriers, security systems, and UFOs all run by a robotic civilization. You two will be risking your necks trying to get through here. So by all means, good luck!"

"Don't worry, Rosie. I've survived much worse," Mario reassured. "We'll be careful, right Aster?"

Aster however, was quaking in place at the sight of that huge rock. His eyes were as big as black holes, his teeth were chattering like a pair of denchers, and the confidence that Mario saw in him back in previous galaxies was gone.

"Do… Do… Do we HAVE to go there…?"Aster shuddered.

"If we want to save one of Mario's friends, yes," the cosmic protector answered.

Mario nudged his comrade's shoulder with a suggestive grin. "The great and powerful Aster Ode Galaxium, he who fights space monsters, afraid of a giant floating rock!"

Aster grabbed Mario by the shirt collar upon hearing that, and stared deeply into his soul with thundering rage.

"Say that again…" Aster gritted under his scowling teeth.

"Sheesh! Can't you take a joke? I was just messing around!" said Mario.

"Aster!" Rosalina shouted like a strict mother. She waved her finger back and forth, urging her husband to put the plumber down.

"Sorry," they both said.

"Now then, best of luck out there, boys. And please return safely."

"We will!" both heroes saluted as they headed for the fountain. Inside, they used the Pull Star and witnessed Battlerock Galaxy come into vision. Complete with the giant, mechanized rock they saw on the monitor.

"Watch your back, plumber! This place is no laughing matter! It's a deathtrap!" Aster warned.

"Got it!"

The two took off towards the rocky galaxy in hopes of finding one of Mario's pals. Hopefully they were okay.

Battlerock Galaxy

[(transitioning from Space Fantasy) BGM: Battlerock Galaxy - Super Mario Galaxy]

As they approached the Battlerock, Mario was instantly reminded of some sci-if films he saw as a kid with all the UFOs hurdling all over the place in unpredictable manners. They looked and felt to be made of chrome and were gleaming in the yellowish light from the gigantic planet or moon that took up most of the greenish sky. He and Aster landed on one of these flying saucers, with the mechanized Battlerock appearing gigantic nearby. The Battlerock itself is a huge rock studded with cannons, and the inside contained many technical contraptions. Mario couldn't help but notice Aster still quaking in his boots right next to him. What could he have been thinking about?

"Aster, I'm sorry about the joke from earlier, but seriously. Why are you so scared of this place? I know it's dangerous, but I'm sure you've been through worse." Mario asked in concern.

"I'M NOT SCARED!" he screamed as if he were being chased by a roadrunner. "I just… don't have the best history with this place. That's all. We can talk about it later. Let's just go! Your friends are likely not going to save themselves."

Mario nodded. They both began by collecting Blue Star Chips on each of the saucers in the surrounding area, in which they then used the Pull Stars to reach a Launch Star.

The Launch Star took them to another saucer. Though this one had a particular blur screw attached to it. Mario eyed it and decided to screw it down. This took the platform and made an alarm sound. Several amps on the side of the saucer started sparking up, and the cannons attached to the Battlerock started rapidly firing.

"INTRUDERS DETECTED! DEPLOY BATTLEROCK DEFENSES!"

"What did you just do?!" scolded Aster.

"I don't know!" screamed Mario.

On the bright side, the saucer the two stood on started moving towards the massive rock. So at least they were getting somewhere. Once it reached the rock, the space duo had to dodge the rapid fire from the cannons, and jump over electric wires by taking advantage of the saucer having gravity on both the top and the bottom.

Once they got through, they managed to get inside the Battlerock to find a laboratory. The walls were black-greenish, displaying thousands of ones and zeroes which normal people couldn't bear to translate. It wasn't important anyway since the mother computer with the information they needed was right there.

[BGM end]

"We're lucky to have escaped that with our lives," said Aster. "Listen Mario, you're a great ally, but you gotta learn to think before you act."

"Look, I'm sorry. Okay? I couldn't see any other way to get through," said Mario.

"Whatever. Now then. This might be our answer to finding one of your folks. Just gimme a few minutes to search the code."

"Okie dokie." Mario gave a thumbs up to Aster as he used his coding skills.

After five minutes, Aster printed out a file and read through it. But what he saw made his pupils shrink smaller than distant stars in the night sky.

"Oh… um… This… This is…"

"What? What is it Aster?" Mario asked impatiently.

"Mario… regarding your friend Alex… does his last name happen to be 'Peterson'?" Aster hesitantly asked.

Mario's grin stretched wider than a spaghetti noodle. This was it! They finally found Alex! Right?

"Yes! Yes! Yes! YES! That's him! Alex Peterson!" Mario giddily jumped up and down in joy. "WHERE IS HE?!"

Mario's excitement made Aster sweat even more.

"Well… Mario… I… don't know how to break this to you… but…"

Mario's jumping came to a halt, and his smile slowly faded.

"Aster, what's going on? Where's Alex?"

"Your friend Alex… has been…"

[BGM: Catastrophe - Super Mario Galaxy]

Before he could finish, a bright explosion filled the room, blowing the two heroes over to the wall. Aster was instantly grabbed by the neck and was presented with hundreds of volts spreading through his veins, instantly KOing the man. His skeleton could be seen for a split second before he fainted.

"ASTER!" Mario desperately called out.

The figure that attacked Aster rocketed towards him like a speeding bullet and kicked Mario in the torso several times, before smashing him towards the mother computer, destroying it and weakening Mario with the volt of electricity keeping him weak and vulnerable. The person who beat him to the ground approached him slowly. Mario couldn't make out the details of this adversary, but could already tell how dangerous he was.

"Well, well, well. The famous superstar of the Mushroom Kingdom. We meet at last! I've been looking forward to an epic battle with you, and this is the best fight you can put up?" the figure pitied. "And you also happen to be accompanied by an outlaw of this galaxy who hasn't learned his place."

Mario's vision was still blurry, but he could make out a somewhat familiar image from the person who beat him. It… couldn't be… would it?

[BGM end]

"You… look familiar…" Mario spoke weakly. "Do I… know you… from… somewhere…?"

The cyborg let out a heinous laugh that sounded like the cackling of a certain flower from an underground RPG game. "Oh, how quaint! Our long awaited reunion, yet you don't recognize me?! And I was so happy to see you again…"

"H-Huh…?"

"Alright, alright. I'll refresh your mind with a little history lesson. It all began in my home of Dallas, Texas." the figure described. "I was suffering from AL leukemia at the verge of kicking the bucket. My family was heartbroken and worried about my death. I didn't think my days would get any better. That was until you arrived. I was super excited to meet my childhood hero. I even thought it was just a dream. But you gave me the encouragement to keep fighting for my life and continue moving forward. I never forgot you for it. After I survived cancer, I took your place in a twisted tennis tournament when you got in a biking accident. I even helped you and Luigi gather the Magic Mushrooms and save Princess Peach last year. Well…?"

Mario gasped when his blurry vision finally cleared up. There was no denying it. This WAS Alex!

"Alex…?" Mario's voice was slightly cracked. His tears were held up like a stepped on hose waiting to release it's load.

[BGM: Tails Gets an Upgrade? - Sonic Lost World]

"Ding ding ding!" Alex imitated. "Bingo! It's-a me! Though I don't go by that name anymore. Too earthlike. Call me Alpha Pandora, second-in-command of the Topman Tribe."

"No…" Mario tried to deny it as his tears were leaking out. "No… no… no… Th-This can't be… What… Wh-What happened to you…?"

AP scoffed.

"As if you don't know." He narrowed his eyes and glared at Mario. "All this time, you prop yourself up as the best hero who ever was. You're always going around saying 'It's-a-me, Mario!' "'Come on Alex, let's-a-go!'" The cyborg's glare got more concentrated. Mario felt as if his heart was being turned into pulp. "And yet, you weren't there for me. You left me to die in this galaxy!"

Mario's mind was running at two hundred miles per minute, trying to process all of this information. What was going on? What was happening?

"Alex, I never..."

"My name is not Alex!" AP shouted. He shot a blast at Mario, who quickly dodged it by rolling out of the way. "You are the most horrible man to ever live! Thanks to you, Leah is dead! My Mom and Dad will be heartbroken to hear it, Mario, and it's ALL YOUR FAULT! I HATE YOU!"

Mario stared into AP's face. A salty flavor coated his lips. His breathing rate was going through the roof.

"Alex…

"For the last time, my name is NOT ALEX!" AP screamed as he held his arm cannon up to Mario's head at close proximity, striking more fear into the Mushroom Kingdom superstar than ever before. His heart rate was accelerated even faster. Any faster, and it could surpass the speed of light. "You know 'old friend', if I had an OUNCE of humanity left in me, this would be a very touching reunion. But I'm afraid that's not how I work."

[BGM: Robo Tails Attacks! - Sonic Lost World]

His arm cannon charged up. Mario couldn't find the strength to get up, so he closed his eyes and braced himself.

"This is goodbye, plumber." Before he could lay down the finishing blow, however, Alex's white lifeless eye suddenly turned into its original brown color. His face of hatred, anger, and rage also softened up to one showing sorrow, hurt, and regret. Mario opened his eyes up. For the first time since the Star Festival, Mario saw Alex. The REAL Alex he knew and loved like a second brother. The one who he truly cared for was standing right there with him.

"Mario... h-h-h-help... me..." Alex weeped in despair. Mario slowly reached out in hopes of feeling his friend's warmth. That was until AP's anger came back, striking Mario's fear once again.

"FORGET WHAT YOU JUST SAW!"

Alex appeared again and pointed the cannon away as it was about to fire. "NO!"

The cannon fired toward the wall and Alex flew away through the hole he made, taking AP with him. He also left a Power Star behind to the duo's fortune. But Mario had given himself a moment to process what he had just witnessed.

[BGM end]

"Alex..." Mario said in his despair.

Aster got up from the blow he received and gave himself and Mario emergency Life Shrooms to fully recover. Aster looked around to see the damage AP caused. But AP himself was gone.

"Where'd he go? Mario, what just happened?"

Mario didn't answer, though. He was left in tears after what he had just witnessed. Aster grew a feeling of remorse.

"You… saw what happened to your friend, didn't you? I'm… I'm so sorry…"

He went to comfort the plumber. They stayed in the laboratory for a while before taking the Star back.

Credit goes to StarlitDuck for helping me out with Bouldergeist's backstory and Mario's encounter with AP. You are awesome!