Chapter 2
-Link Timestriker-
"Leaving Mario Galaxy in 3… 2… 1… Blast off!", announced Fox as he throttled the ship to near-lightspeed.
The Arwing 2's cockpit was showered with a million light rays, each one coming from a distant solar system that might have been populated in the distant past.
Jumpman Mario woke up on his seat, then turned his big eyes into narrow slits, dazzled by the luminous spectacle.
"My, my, my… You woke up, great Mario", said a blond man who wore green robes and a liberty cap.
Mario thought the young one was in his early teens. Thus, he tried to respond to him as he would with any teenaged toadstool.
"Hello, young man. Who might you be…?".
"My name is Link Timestriker. I am the bearer of the Triforce of Courage, or at least it used to be that way before the Deadly Brotherhood took over".
"Deadly Brotherhood?" repeated Mario while adjusting himself on the uncomfortable seat.
The light rays faded from the interior of the Arwing, and only deep darkness shrouded them for a moment.
"Hey, Gee Double U. Give us some light here, pa'l", said Fox to his copilot.
"In a minute, Fox", responded Mr. Game & Watch with a squeaky voice.
A calming blue light caressed the hats of both Mario and Link while it barely touched the features of Fox and Mr. Game & Watch.
"Um, yes, sir Mario. The Deadly Brotherhood took over the Legendary Galaxy. I myself attempted to challenge them, but the results have been far from effective", continued Link while facing Mario.
"I see, boy… Where are we going, in Toadstool's name?".
"We are moving to the Federation's Galaxy, Mario", said Fox, "I need to convince another two fighters to join the cause".
"Oh, you mean abducting them by force?", responded Mario while giving an angry look at Fox.
"I would not use the word 'abducting', sir", said Link, tacitly. "Mister Fox does not have time to waste. In your case, he had to subdue you, given your rage and apparent loss".
Jumpman gave an icy look to Link and said nothing further for a great portion of the trip.
After a long period of cold silence, Link engaged in a long conversation with Mr. Game & Watch, asking him about the days before the Golden Goddesses came to the Legendary Galaxy. Mario was curious, for he did not know that there were millenarian beings alive up until this point.
"As you can see, it was a simple life. I barely fought dragons or fixed houses. Most of my time was spent playing racquetball, eating nice meals from time to time, and building cities", continued Mr. Game & Watch with squeaky intonations that were somewhat annoying for Mario's ears.
"That is quite honorable, Mr. Game and Watch", replied Link while taking off his elongated, green cap. "I wish I had such a joyful life, but peace never lasts in Hyrule. First came Ganon, then Vaati trailed after him, and then the rogue gallery kept expanding, and expanding, and expanding…".
"It must have been crazy down there", interjected Fox.
"Indeed, it was. If it were not for Zelda, I may have abandoned all hope and escaped the Hylian continent".
"Yet, you never did", said Mr. Game & Watch.
"Yes, I never left…", answered Link as he saddened while looking at the distant red stars of the Federation's Galaxy.
Jumpman saw the bluish eyes of the blond boy, then immediately felt the sadness that coursed through him. He knew that look. It was the same one he gave when the Mushroom Kingdom was once ravaged by the ancient forces of Fawful. Nonetheless, he fought through them with his brother, and managed to win over the course of several years.
"I know what it feels like, dear Link", said Mario.
Link turned his eyes to the plumber while visibly swept in confusion.
"What, sir Mario?".
"Boy, I have gone through many battles and wars, and the result tended to be always the same: a draw between the enemies and us. It may have looked like victories for all the young toadstools, but the deal is that I can only manage to keep the darkness at bay. My brother once tried to hire our archnemeses; however, their fixation on gold and riches removed any code of honor they may have had".
"Where are they now? We might need them!", said young Link with glimmering eyes of hope.
"Who knows, Wario must be raiding a few ancient tombs by now. His brother, Waluigi, eh… he is not the best at keeping promises; sports and bets are his passions, and it is hard to take him away from this vain path".
"But we can convince them to join us for the sake of keeping their riches", continued the passionate Link.
"I tried that route early on, honorable swordsman", said Fox. "It doesn't work with these guys. They need physical proof of whatever we say to them. Wario almost buried me alive on that jungle; Waluigi, he just dared me to race him with the original Arwing".
"And you never accepted Waluigi's challenge?", asked Link.
"It was not worth the trouble. He will just keep challenging me until he has no money left. That one, my friend, is a scoundrel of the worst kind".
Link turned his head between Mario and Fox in complete disbelief. Defeated by his own inquiries, he became silent again, and looked at the Federation's Galaxy. It was now within their reach.
"Repositioning scanners", squeaked Mr. Game & Watch.
"Hands on your laps, Link and Mario. We will have an explosive descent on Zebes. How is the atmospheric temperature down there, Gee Double U?".
"Hot enough to fry a chicken within a few seconds", said Mr. Game & Watch while giving a thumbs up to Link and Mario.
They burst out laughing all the way down to the ancient world of Zebes. It was the first time Mario felt gleeful in a long while.