27

Mario and Luigi continued starring out into the horizon as the landscape around them continued to brighten with the arrival of the desert sun. Facing straight across from the cave to the north, the brothers could see huge distance mountains with some vegetation and another oasis with palm trees just across the raging river. The air around them was already warm, and it was also surprisingly silent. They could only hear the faint rustling of sand in the light wind that was coming from the west.

"Where are we?" Luigi asked. "This place doesn't look familiar."

"We're probably just north of the pyramids." Mario said. "They would probably be just behind these cliffs, but we're too low to see them.

"How are we going to get back up?" Luigi asked. There's no way we can climb these steep rocks!"

"I know that there's a place along this river where the rocks are level enough for us to climb." Mario said. "I'm not sure where though, but I also know that this river takes us directly east of the pyramids. The fastest way to get there is to swim with the current."

"And how do you know all of this?" Luigi asked.

"I've seen a map of this place." Mario replied.

"Are you sure the current isn't too fast?" Luigi asked.

"We'll be fine." Mario said. "Trust me."

"I just hope you're right." Luigi said. "I don't want to get swept to a strange place."

"We're already in a strange place." Mario said.

The brothers walked to the edge of cliff and observed the moving water just below them. Although the water was not raging, it was still fast enough to make it difficult for Mario and Luigi to climb back out. Still, they figured that the water was safe enough for them dive into. On the count of three, both brothers jumped off the cliff and splashed into the cool water below. They surfaced and started riding the current.

"That sure woke me up!" Luigi said in a shivery tone.

"Don't remind me!" Mario said. "I haven't slept for hours!"

"Neither have I." Luigi replied. "The last thing I need is a Cheep-Cheep biting me in the ass!"

Mario laughed.

After about half an hour of floating the river, the waters started to calm and the brothers were able to find a small sand bar to climb out. The sun had already risen almost halfway up the now blue sky and the warmth was already starting to overwhelm them, despite being soaked from their morning swim. They climbed up the rocks and saw the pyramids looming in the distance once again. This time, they were looking straight at the eastern pyramid, which was the closest. The large middle pyramid with its glowing tip was looming behind it. At the same time, mirages were starting to distort Mario and Luigi's view and play tricks on their eyes. Luigi pulled out the canteen.

"I got some water in the canteen." Luigi said. "I don't how pure it is, but I think it's pure enough to drink."

"Awesome." Mario said. "Just remember to share."

"Don't worry, Mario." Luigi replied. "I won't let you get dehydrated."

As the brothers continued walking through the hot desert towards the pyramids, the wind began getting stronger around them and clouds of dust started picking up from the ground. Huge dust devils were seen towering in the distance like tornadoes against the desert vista, swirling and moving about and sending grains of sand into the hot, dry air.

"Ouch! The sand is stinging my eyes!" Luigi said.

"I'm surprised that I'm still walking on blistered feet!" Mario said. "At least we aren't too far from the pyramids!"

"I don't see any of Bowser's troops." Luigi said. "I wonder where they've gone to."

"I don't know, but I don't like it." Mario said. "Something tells me that they are up to something. Either they think we're still trapped inside the temple, or they think we might be somewhere else."

"I don't think they know that we made it out." Luigi said. "I mean, why would they? They don't know that there's another way out."

"You're right." Mario replied. "That gets us more time to find the two other keys, too. So far, we've found the keys of the west and the north according to the riddle. My best guess is that eastern key is located in that pyramid straight ahead."

Mario pointed to the pyramid.

"Let's see what we can find." Luigi said.

Just then, the two brothers spotted two Pokey cactus plants roaming around the desert. They noticed Mario and Luigi just as they started getting close. The brothers froze and looked around and saw several other Pokeys gliding through the sand towards them. Everywhere they looked, more Pokeys appeared. Pretty soon, there were too many cacti to count. They were surrounded.

"Oh no!" Mario said. "No these things!"

"Great!" Luigi said sarcastically. "Just what we needed!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Luigi." Mario said. "These things are very deadly! I used to know somebody in school that almost died from being cut by one of them with their razor-sharp spikes! He was on the athletic team."

"What should we do?" Luigi asked. "We're running low on flowers. We can't just punch them!"

The Pokey plants were getting ever closer to the Mario brothers as they panicked to find a way out of the trap. Mario suddenly took the rucksack from his back and pulled out two of the power stars that were concealed inside. He gave one of them to Luigi.

"I think it's about time we discovered what these things can do!" Mario said.

"You can't be serious!" Luigi said. "These things are too rare to use! Besides, we don't even know how to use them!"

Suddenly, the stars began to glow and the brothers were suddenly overwhelmed with extraordinary power that seemed to slow everything around them as if time itself were being warped in their favor. Their bodies were seething with star power. They were now temporarily invincible.

"So that's what the stars do?!" Luigi asked in awe. "Wow!"

"I feel like I'm at the top of the world!" Mario said. "Let's kick some cactus ass!"

The Pokeys realized their potential fate and started to flee. But the brothers were too fast for them. One by one, Mario and Luigi blasted through each of the Pokeys and watched them disintegrate from the blow of their fists. Mario was suddenly surrounded, but he was able to swipe all the cacti with a roundhouse kick. Luigi punched his way through a group of remaining Pokeys and obliterated them. The brothers were back to back when the power started to dwindle away and time continued at its usual pace. Mario and Luigi could only stand in silence after the power disappeared.

"Remind me to save these for Bowser!" Mario said.

Luigi simply laughed and they both continued walking to the eastern pyramid with renewed energy and confidence.

Mario and Luigi have finally discovered the power of the power stars! YAY! I do apologize for not updating for well over a week. School has been giving me such a hard time lately that I haven't been able to get around it to update the story. But I'm glad I got everything out of the way, because now I can write again!

The brothers are now in search of the eastern key, after which they still have to find the southern key before opening the door to the second Crystal Star. What other dangers could be lurking in the desert? What are the current wherabouts of Bowser and his platoon? Will there be another encounter?

These questions will be answered as Volume 2 nears its conclusion... I can't wait to get started on Volume 3! Anyway, keep your eyes open for the next update. Hopefully I'll be able to update more often this week! If not, its probably because I'm working on schoolwork. I'll see you in the next chapter :)

saturn95