Chapter 3

"Patience"

It felt odd having to return to its shell. How its body had managed to rebuild itself he didn't know how. It didn't matter though; it was a being of action and less words. Thinking too much would just hinder progress to whatever it was doing. All that mattered was the now. It was back to the material world.

The Dark Star opened its eyes and were assaulted by a sudden change in scenery. Bright greens, yellows, and whites went flooding into its eyes. It was too dark back in the void. It had forgotten that light could be so uncomfortable once it comes rushing towards you. But it's a good sign at least... It was somewhere away from that dreaded place.

But it thought so too soon; the plumbers were right before him.

The green one was standing absolutely still mouth agape in sheer terror. He was holding the remnants of what looked like a hammer. He looked absolutely pale one would think he was a mannequin if he didn't shudder so much.

The red one meanwhile was into a reluctant fighting stance. He looked unprepared for the turn of events namely the ancient relic's arrival. He looked fearful as well, but he was more composed than the poor and pale thing beside him.

Their expressions made it wonder some things. The Dark Star was surprised and slightly amused that the two "heroes" that defeated it were pitifully scared. Were they still the heroes he so wished to destroy years back? Where was their bravery and defiance? It doesn't matter though... They still needed to die.

It charged up a spear and aimed it at the two stunned plumbers.

...(3rd POV)...

Mario and Luigi saw the Dark Star conjuring one of its spears aimed at them. 'MOVE!', their minds screamed but their bodies didn't listen. The shock wouldn't allow them to move,

But something made them wonder what the Dark Star was up to.

The spear dissipated into shadow.

...(Dark Star POV)...

'Impossible!', I thought.

The spear was fully charged; ready to skewer those plumbers and take justice for my previous defeat several years ago. I had expected it to finally end the two, but the spear only... disappeared.

I tried to conjure and aim another one but it also disappeared.

I was beginning to become frustrated and instead resorted to firing a charged beam at them. I drew my strength into a ball of dark energy and proceeded to release into a jet-like fashion. It did hit them, but it only succeeded in turning back into harmless shadow upon contact.

I began to feel uneasy... and weak. What's happening? This is humiliating... What happened to the dark power? WHAT IS GOING ON?!

The two plumbers just stared at me wondering if I had just failed to attack them. I stare back with wild and desperate eyes. They were now both in a fighting stance. The green one started fidgeting with his fists in anticipation. The red one just glared at me in defiance.

I began to feel even weaker and heavier... Did I just come back here to be defeated again in the most humiliating way possible? My eyes threatened to droop.

The weakness got the best of me and I stopped levitating. My spikes started to shorten and disappear. An unstable shadowy haze engulfed me. No. It was venting out of me. Something from me is dissipating... Something is being... taken away from me... I feel... sleepy...

I failed to keep my eyes open for longer. I see the two of them still in their fighting stance, but it I could see they had less tension. They knew they now had the chance to make the first hit, and I was their prey. I finally fall asleep.

...(3rd POV)...

"Well... That was anticlimactic", Mario exclaimed in disbelief. The Dark Star just woke up, tried to attack them, failed, and fell asleep again. He looked at Luigi asking if he had any idea what just happened.

"I-I don't know... It just-", he pointed at the sleeping Dark Star. It had been too close enough that the Dark Star awoke. They were not going to waste this second chance. It's time to really take action.

"So... Now what?", Luigi asks.

Mario thought for a little while and suggested a solution. "Maybe we can just put it back in its old prison under Toad Town. And have more guards to keep watch so nothing like the last time would happen again."

"Yeah... Ok..."

"Let's go!"

...(Dark Star's POV)...

I awoke again. This time, it felt weird. It must be what mortals call "grogginess"... I opened my eyes slowly and blinked a few times before taking in the scenery.

I was in a dark cave that resembled a sewage system. It had rough, moss-covered, brick walls. Water seeped out through some cracks and crevices and formed small creeks on the wet stone floor. Wait... is this my old prison? I take in more of the surroundings.

I was set on a stone brick pedestal surrounded by a moat. A bridge connected my pedestal to the main floor. I hear water running behind me and there were two waterfalls on either side of the back corner of my room.

Four pillars each contained a ball of energy. These orbs connected to me with visible electric waves like a lightning. They immobilized me but it didn't keep me asleep like last time; although it did make me weaker.

"Well... I can't see why this is a bad idea. It did prove efficient years ago..."

"But that was YEARS ago! Things have changed! You knew what happened during the Fawful incident, right?!"

"Yes, I know. I've been there. We were unprepared for that. Do have any better suggestions?"

"Well... No. But that doesn't mean there isn't anything better!"

"Then do you know anyone who has a better idea of what to do?"

I could hear people arguing; possibly about how to contain or rid of me. Both sounded female... I focused my eyes were the sound came from. It was dark after all; it would take time to adjust.

I make out the form of a pink, humanoid creature. She had flowing blonde hair that ended at her hips. A golden tiara was perched comfortably on her head. It's the princess who locked me up here long ago...

The other figure was a yellow creature and orb-shaped like me. Only she had shoes and a luminescent star on top of her head. She was the annoying star sprite that helped those two plumbers defeat me.

I spot the two plumbers flanking each side of the princess. Both were keeping quiet and fidgeting with their caps. None of them dared to join the two girls' argument.

"I DON'T KNOW! Sorry princess, but sometimes you make bad decisions!", replied the star sprite.

The princess had a more concerning and understanding look. "Oh Starlow, I understand. But we can't think of any other way. Destroying it proved to be impossible and placing it at the hands of someone else is a bad idea... We have full responsibility of the Dark Star-"

"EXACTLY!", the star sprite spat back. "That thing puts everyone in danger within a thousand-mile radius! And it's right under Toad Town! You even had the heart to let it wake whenever it wants than just let it fall asleep for all eternity! What do you think would happen if it escaped!"

'For your information star sprite, I can't even move thus disproving my ability to escape... What a dumb creature...' I retorted in the back of my mind.

The red plumber then noticed me awake.

"Uh... Guys. It's awake." His earlier fear was now replaced by a look of uncertainty; definitely not from me but from the tension between the two arguing females.

All four sets of eyes were now on me. I stared back.

There was now a greater tension in the room. Nobody wanted to talk anymore. They were all focused on me and what I would do.

I have infinite patience if I can tolerate it. Unfortunately, this is not one of the things I can wait out. My dark power is no more and I needed answers.

"Where is it?"

The star sprite who I assume is Starlow answered rather harshly. "Where's what?"

I tried to answer as matter-of-factly as possible. "My Dark power. It does not seem to obey my orders. It has restricted me of my prowess. I take you have involvement to my problem seeing as you were responsible for my previous defeat. I suspect you have done something to it."

"Well, good. Now you won't be any trouble..." She sighed but gave a venomous glare. "I don't believe you one single bit!"

"Where. Is. It?", I repeated venomous irritation dripping from every word.

"I don't care about it! If the Dark Power doesn't do you any of your dirty little conquests then that's a good thing, right? Except for you that is!"

The red one finally spoke. "Before it fell asleep it was about to attack us back at Dimble wood. But it's attacks just turned into shadow and disappeared... I don't think he's lying."

The star sprite looked back at the red one bewildered by his comment. "Now your siding with it?! What is wrong with all of you?!"

"Starlow! Please calm down! You are making things more difficult." The princess chastised the hysterical star sprite.

I could only listen as Starlow began rambling about how dangerous I am and hope the princess would finally shut that damned star sprites mouth. The two plumbers were trying to help the princess calm her.

"Starlow... I am fully aware of the power the Dark Star holds. But could you just trust us in this one?" The princess softly held the star sprite's cheek on her hand.

"Yeah! I mean... We are the ones that defeated it in the first place right? We could just do that again when it escapes!", the green one added in.

The red one who was currently eying me, added in. "If it bothers you too much we can just ask it, right? We can interrogate it or something..."

"Please... We are putting the lives of many people at stake, but we are also going to be affected. We understand you Starlow... You just need to understand us." The princess had such a soft tone that it practically begged for the star sprite to finally cooperate.

This calmed the star sprite who was now looking at the princess sheepishly. "S-sorry princess... I guess I got too carried away there."

The princess patted her. "I forgive you. Now... Where were we?"

All eyes were again on me. This time though, I didn't stare back. I closed my eyes hoping that they would dismiss me as asleep and ask me questions later. Too bad the star sprite was so persistent. "Hey! Wake up!"

I ignore her call.

"Wakeupwakeupwakeupwakeupwakeup" Now she was really trying my patience.

"Wake UP!" She threw a stone at my face.

It didn't hurt but it was very insulting and annoying. I needed to have some quiet, and I had to talk if I wanted it... I hate being pushed.

I opened my eyes to find the two plumbers, princess, and star sprite right before me.

"What do you want?", I asked in a clearly annoyed tone.

The princess looked quizzically at me then at her companions. Perhaps she noticed my discomfort around them.

"Starlow? Mario? Luigi? Can you give me a minute with the Dark Star?... Alone?"

The three of her companions were clearly bewildered by their princess's proposal. Their reply was obvious enough.

"No!" They all said in unison.

"I am still the princess here; a higher authority. You must obey me. Please, I want to have a word with the Dark Star."

"But princess-"

"Please..." She pointed out, "The Dark Star is not going anywhere with the updated security system. It has presumably lost its power decreasing the chances of it escaping or influencing me. It's fine guys..."

Sooner, they left rather reluctantly. Mario was the last to leave. "Take care princess..."

"Thank you, Mario." She gave a soft smile at the red plumber and waved. Mario waved back before finally leaving the room.

There was an awkward silence between the two of us. I gazed at the princess waiting for her to assault me with questions about why I'm here or what I meant about losing the dark power.

None of it came.