9

After getting themselves nice cold sandwiches from a local deli, the Mario brothers travelled to another outfitter store and underwent another wardrobe change. Mario was now wearing light blue overalls instead of coveralls over the same red shirt while Luigi was wearing dark blue overalls over the same green shirt. Finally they were able to walk more comfortably in the hot sun and not have to worry as much about staying in the shade. There was no sign of Pauline anywhere as the brothers strived to find the nearest hotel they could stay at.

"Mario, I'm tired." Luigi said. "My whole body is starting to ache."

"I know how you feel." Mario said. "I could also use some water. I hope Pauline is alright."

"She'll be fine." Luigi said. "But where could she have gone to?"

"I wish I could answer that." Mario said. "However, my instincts tell me that she didn't go very far."

Mario stopped and took the rucksack off his back and opened it. He took out the Diamond Star. Luigi looked at the star and then looked at his brother.

"The fate of our world rests within that and six other stars." Luigi said. "They used to be the most powerful objects in the universe."

"I know." Mario said. "I've been thinking. Do you think there's any way that these stars could be used for good intentions?"

"I doubt it." Luigi said. "They were created entirely out of evil. Although, I really want to know what the symbol on the back of the star represents, though. It's really making me think."

"It has to be the planetary symbol for Venus." Mario said. "It couldn't be anything else."

"But why is it on the star?" Luigi asked. "It has to be there for a reason. I can't imagine that the creators of this artifact would go out of their way to carve a symbol out of it when it really doesn't need one."

"They wouldn't carve it in if they had no intention to do so." Mario said. "At least that's what I think."

"Yeah, true." Luigi said. "I wonder if during that time there was a significant line up of the planets when the Shadow Queen used the stars to take over the Earth and heavens."

"What gave you that idea?" Mario asked.

"I don't know." Luigi asked. "It sort've came to me while I was asleep last night."

"Hmm." Mario said. "That makes me think of the thought I had two days ago. I forgot about it, but now I remember it. I think I was having the same thoughts you just had."

"Strange." Luigi said. "Do you think we might be on to something that we don't know about when it comes to the Crystal Stars? Something that was forgotten perhaps?"

"I don't know, Luigi." Mario said. "Something just doesn't feel right. I've had that feeling ever since we left Rogueport and found out about the prophecy of the Crystal Stars and us. It seems like the more we learn and think about the Crystal Stars, the more mystery and burden they place upon our backs. Why?"

"I'm not sure." Luigi said, letting out a huge yawn. "I'm really tired."

"Let's go find a place to stay then." Mario said. "We're going to need our rest if we want to head for the pyramids this evening."

The brothers made their way to the nearest hotel that they could find. To their surprise, the first one they came to was also the most expensive, with each suite consisting of a large balcony overlooking the rest of the town from the top of the hill. There were three floors in the giant hotel, and the grand entrance was lined with a lovely oasis filled with palm trees and papyrus plants.

"Shall we stay here?" Mario asked.

"You can't be serious!" Luigi said in a surprised voice. "They look very expensive! Do we have enough coinage to last one night?"

"We enough here to last a whole week!" Mario said.

"How can you be so sure?" Luigi asked. "You don't even know how expensive this hotel is yet!"

"It's expensive enough." Mario said. "We'll be safe here."

"I hope so." Luigi said. "The last thing we need is for Bowser's troops to raid this town like they did to Toad Town. God, I hope everyone we know there is okay!"

"Yeah, me too!" Mario said. "What about Wario and Waluigi?"

"Well, after seeing how evil Bowser is," Luigi said, "I hope that they survive too."

"Why?" Mario asked. "They tried to kill us."

"Yes," Luigi said, "but who else are we going to brag about our success to when the princesses are saved by us and the world is at peace once again?"

"That is, if we survive." Mario said. "I hope we do survive this ordeal we got ourselves into. Mom and Dad is probably watching us right now and rooting us on, so we must make him proud."

Dad. Luigi thought. Why did you have to kill yourself? Why didn't you choose to live and see us grow up and guide through our hardships?

"Are you okay, Luigi?" Mario asked. "You're starting to tear up, I can see it."

Luigi quickly wiped his tears.

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong." he said. "I just got a little bit of sand in my eyes."

"Oh, I see." Mario replied. "Let's go check into our room."

After negotiating a deal with the hotel clerk at the front desk residing in the main lobby, the two brothers made their way up to their booked room. They were assigned two different rooms, room 304 and 305, rooms that were both situated on the third floor. The reason why they were given separate rooms was because there were no two-person suites left. However, Mario was able to persuade the clerk to cut the price in half on the condition that they leave no later than midnight, which gave both the brothers some leeway to get their much needed sleep before their journey to the pyramids.

Mario was the first to open his suite. He couldn't believe how furnished the room was.

"Mamma mia!" he said out loud. "Look at this!"

Inside the room there was a single bed that was covered with blankets made from the finest desert fabrics. The floor was checkered black and white, much like King Toadstool's castle. The room also featured a wine rack filled with assorted alcoholic beverages and a poker table for playing various card games. There was also a balcony looking out to the desert and the distant mountains of the Mushroom from which the brothers came. He could also see the pyramids of Sarasaland glinting in the early evening sunlight.

"Wow!" Luigi said. "That's quite the setup!"

"Let's see what your room looks like." Mario said.

Luigi's room was located just across the hall from Mario's room, but it was equally spectacular in its lavish amenities. It was perfectly symmetrical to Mario's room, but the balcony looked over the town and the desert beyond, plus the light from the sun made it very bright compared to Mario's room. Luigi could even see the glint coming from the distant ocean that bordered the kingdom. He guessed it was almost thirty miles away.

"I could get used to this." Luigi said.

"Well, we're only going to be here until around midnight." Mario said. "So I wouldn't get too used to it."

"I think I'm going to take a shower and go to bed early." Luigi said. "I'm very tired."

"I guess I'll do the same." Mario said. "See you in the morning, brother."

"Yep." Luigi said. "I'll see you at eleven fifty-nine!"

"That works." Mario said.

Mario closed his door and headed towards his first-class bathroom and started running warm water for a nice shower.

A couple of hours passed by and Mario was unable to fall asleep. The sun was just starting to set and the sky was starting to get dark. Mario got out of his bed and looked out into the eastern horizon towards the pyramids and began to wonder.

Why should I be staying at a fancy hotel while the princesses are in dire trouble? he thought to himself. It just doesn't feel right.

The moon was no longer right in the east during the setting of the sun. Due to its constant orbital motion, Mario knew that it would be at least another hour before the moon would rise that night. It was this kind of thinking that caused Mario to have strange thoughts again.

Luigi must be getting a really good view of the planets tonight! Mario thought. There must be something about the arrangement of the heavens that gives the Crystal Stars such significance! Whatever it is, I think the answer is buried somewhere beneath those pyramids. But I really need to fall asleep. Just thinking about this gives me such a headache! Maybe a sip of wine will help put me to sleep.

Mario walked over to the wine cabinet and found the strongest wine he could get his hands on. He poured himself a small glass and, without consuming too much of the beverage, he already felt a buzz inside his brain.

"Woo! That is too strong!" Mario said. "I think that'll do."

Mario went back to his bed and laid himself in the nice comfortable sheets. As expected, his eyes started to close and he fell into a deep sleep. He started to dream about Peach and the times they used to share before he knew her as a princess, especially the night of the school dance, which stuck in his memory more than anything else, other than the night of the king's funeral. It was all coming back to him now.