Queen Sunstar: One of my readers was kind enough to point out that I had never described Solance in the last chapter. Solance is a sun. he is a humanoid with a sun shaped head much like Brighton. He is tall, about six ft two in, and wears a solid orange robe. He is younger then Brighton, and is Brightons student. When he becomes the formidable Summer Solstice, his robe turns gold and orange wings form on his back.
Brighton: Queen Sunstar does not own anything regarding the Mario brothers except Solance, and the story unfolding below.
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Chapter Seven: Secrets
Eldstar paced. He never paced, unless he was extremely worried about something. Every now and then, he would stop and hover by the big bay window. Inside, Brighton continued to sleep inside the golden ball of fluid. Misstar and Mamar replaced Klevar and Kalmar, in keeping the ball suspended in SA.
(Note from Author: SA stands for suspended animation, a form of life just before death. This is used only by the star spirits in special cases, like Brightons massive chest injury, which he had received in the fight against Lowser. See chapter one)
Eldstar turned away from the window.
'I hope the boys get to Twila in time." Eldstar thought. He called Muskular into the room.
"Yes, sir?" Muskular asked.
"I need you to go to Fate's Mountain, and find Fate. Tell him I need to talk with him." Eldstar told the younger star spirit. Muskular nodded, and orbed out to Mount Koopset, also known as Fates Mountain. Muskular reappeared at the base of the ancient volcano, and orbed up to its peak. He rang the gong, and in a cloud of white smoke, Fate appeared. Fate was a Koopa Troopa. His skin was not wrinkled, or dark green, normal aging signs of a Koopa Troopa, but Fate had a long beard, and carried the Staff of Knowledge. His shell was light green.
"Muskular, you seem troubled, child." Fates voice was kind.
"Fate, Eldstar wishes to speak with you. I am troubled, yes, but you will soon know why." Muscular said.
"This has to do with Brightons injuries, does it not?" Fate asked.
"Yes, I don't understand why Eldstar doesn't heal Brighton himself. He has done it before." Muskular said.
"Child, Eldstar can't heal Brighton this time around because this is a test." Fate said, "We mustn't keep Eldstar waiting, now!" Fate touched the tip of Muskulars left point, and orbed them both back to the Haven, before Muskular could pry further.
Eldstar sensed them orbing in, and turned to face them.
"Fate, its good of you to come. Muskular, please leave us now." Eldstar shooed Muskular out of the room.
"You sensed its early awakening, didn't you?" Fates tone was serious, now.
"I did sense its awakening, yes, but our only hope against it lies badly injured in SA." Eldstar said.
Skolar and Muskular pressed their ears against the door.
"Do you hear anything?" Muskular asked.
"No- wait! I hear them talking about sensing something awakening, no wait- Fate is walking toward us, quick! Orb out!" Skolar whispered back. Before the two stars could move, Fate flung the door open on them.
"Skolar! Muskular! Come on in! I think you two should know what is going on." Fate said, cheerfully. The two stars followed him.
"Eldstar looks pretty angry. We are so dead." Skolar whispered behind his shoulder to Muskular, who only scowled at him.
"For the record, this was your idea!" He hissed back.
They stood before Eldstar.
"What do you two think you were doing? This is behavior that Kalmar or Klevar would do!" Eldstar exploded.
"Now Eldstar, sir, lets calm down and-" Skolar tried.
"Calm down? Calm Down? This is calm! I have a dying sun to deal with, and I don't need you two eavesdropping on my every word!" Eldstars eyes were literally shooting sparks. Muskular gulped. If looks could kill, he and Skolar would be piles of dust on the ground.
"Enough! Eldstar, I know you are stressed right now, but don't take it out on two of your own stars! I created the Sky Legion to keep the peace, not start internal wars! If I wanted my newest creation to be a war world, I would have made it a war world!" Fate screamed. All three stars stared at him.
"Fate, are you the Great Creator?" Skolar asked.
"Who'd you think I was?" Fate snapped.
"I thought you were one of Eldstars special people that he uses to watch over Earth." Muskular said.
"Well, it was bound to get out someday! Yes, I am the Great Creator." Fate said.
"Then couldn't you heal Brighton?" Muskular asked.
"I can't heal His Grace. We need Twila to heal His Grace's injuries, but even then, her love may not be enough to save him. Eldstar, do you want to tell them, or should I?" Fate asked.
"I will tell them. Not too long ago, I sensed something reawakening, something pure evil. This something should have remained asleep for a much longer time. It is known as Belmoth. Belmoth is the Dark Creator. It is Belmoth that Fate fights the endless war against. Belmoth is a star spirit, like us, but he is blood red with black, soulless eyes. He fears one thing. He fears Brightnova, who is the evolved form of Brighton." Eldstar explained.
"Didn't Solaris, Brightons father, fight Belmoth?" Muskular asked.
"It took Solaris and Solarton, the Overlord, working as a team to finally overwhelm Belmoth." Eldstar explained. The stars and the Creator looked at one another, and each came to the same conclusion.
"We can only hope that the bros can get to Twila in time." Fate said.
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"We will-a camp here-a, tonight." Mario said.
"Finally!" Wario dropped his pack on the ground, and sat on it.
"We could get into Nimbus Land tonight if we climb fast enough." Waluigi tried.
"No, Waweegee. It is-a a lot further then it-a looks." Mario said.
"Can we sleep yet?" Wario asked.
"We can sleep on hard ground, or, we climb up the first beanstalk and sleep on a cloud." Luigi said, "I vote cloud."
"All right-a. we will-a climb up to-a the first cloud. Wario, do-a you want to-a sleep on a cloud?" Mario roused the dozing Wario.
"Sleep on a cloud? I would race you if I weren't so tired." Wario said, standing and putting his pack up on his back. They climbed up the beanstalk. Two hours later, they reached the first cloud. Wario dropped his pack on the cloud and promptly curled up and fell asleep. Waluigi was the next to fall asleep. Mario and Luigi laid awake for sometime.
"It is-a further then I remember." Mario said.
"How far do you think we will get tomorrow?" Luigi yawned.
"We should reach the last layer of cloud tomorrow night and reach Nimbus Land the next morning. Good night." Mario rolled over to face the endless night sky. Lunella, a humanoid with a moon shaped head and solid blue robes, shone in the eastern sky. She is the wife of Solance. Soon, both Luigi and Mario were asleep.
Luigi woke before the others. He stretched, and noticed that his sleeves were different colors. One sleeve was orange, while the other was red. He felt his face, and found it to be sun shaped.
"What has happened to me?" Luigi stood, and noticed he was wearing an orange and red robe. He considered waking his brothers, but decided against it. A soft glow filled the cloud. Luigi turned to it.
"Brighton?" He asked, amazed by what he was seeing.
"Luigi, my son, I don't have much time. I am passing the Sunstone on to you." Brighton said, reaching up behind his neck to undo the clasp of the necklace he wore around his neck.
"I am confused, here. What is going on?" Luigi asked.
"Has Waluigi told you?" Brighton asked.
"He has only told us of his death." Luigi said.
"Looks like I will have to explain it. Luigi, you are my youngest son. Waluigi is my oldest, with Wario and Mario in the middle. Twila is your mother. You four are quadruplets." Brighton explained.
"I am going to kill Waluigi for this!" Luigi screamed.
"Your solar name is Brightsun. We had to send three of you down to Earth because of a law that stated that Twila and I could only have one child. We sent Waluigi down to find you. Here is the Sunstone." Brighton handed the Sunstone, a sun shaped golden yellow crystal on a silver chain, over to Luigi. He faded out, and Luigi woke up. He checked his sleeves and saw that they were both green.
"It was just a dream." Luigi felt something hard against his throat, and pulled out the Sunstone.
"No way! Its Brightons Sunstone! But how? That means it was real! Waluigi, you are so dead!" Luigi muttered out loud. He rolled over to face the reddening skyline.
One hour later, everybody was awake.
"Waluigi, how could you?" Luigi screamed. Mario and Wario looked at each other.
"What's his problem?" Wario asked, helping Mario start breakfast.
"I don't know." Mario said, stirring something brown in the pot. He began to pat it into a cake.
"Luigi, what did you dream about? Are you still dreaming?" Waluigi asked.
"I am fully awake! Brighton, or should I say Dad? He came here last night and gave me this! It is his Sunstone! What else are you hiding from us?" Luigi asked.
"I understand that you are mad. I will explain everything at breakfast. Mario, are the pancakes ready yet?" Waluigi asked.
"You mean the-a pot cakes?" Mario chuckled, "They will be done in a minute."
Five minutes later, they sat in a circle, and ate.
"What I am about to tell you will be hard to take. Luigi is right. I have kept secrets from all of you. We are a set of quadruplets, born to Brighton and Twila. They were forced to sent you three down to Earth because of a law that stated that they could only have one child. They kept me. I grew up as an only child. Father told me to go find you three when I reached the age of sixteen. I came to your world and met up with Wario when I was 21 years old. We finally met three years later. That was three years ago. Five years ago, I lost my life fighting Lowser, and became a starlet, working under Eldstar. Something bad happened. Smithy attacked the Star Road. Eldstar and the other six stars that make up the Sky Legion, fought back, but the road was destroyed and the Sky Legion was scattered through Mushroom Kingdom. Mario, do you remember Mallows cloud of brotherhood? If you will remember on Yos'ters Island, when you and Geno somehow put your hands inside it at the same time, and it said you two were twins, that was me, as Geno. I was the one that restored the Star Road, and healed the Sky Legion. As thanks, Eldstar gave me my body back. Technically, I am still dead, just Immortalized." Waluigi explained.
"We are all related? I am related to string bean?" Wario asked.
"Hey! I just learned I am the next sun!" Luigi cried.
"You were-a Geno? Luigi, what do-a you mean by-a the fact you are-a the next sun?" Mario asked.
"I have no more secrets to tell you." Waluigi said.
"Dad came to me last night. He said I was next in line to become the sun. He called me Brightsun, and gave me this." Luigi showed them the Sunstone.
"Is that Brighton's Sunstone?" Wario asked.
"Yes, it is. He said he didn't have much time left." Luigi said, slipping the crystal back under his shirt.
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"We are under attack! This is not a drill! I repeat, We are under attack! Koopalin Army members, please report to the main gates on the double! Civilians, please get behind the castle walls! This is not a drill!" Kamick repeated the message over and over again. Bowser was waiting at the main gates, were the sound of running feet could be heard. Behind him, Eleanor, Bowsers second wife, a light blue Nokis, punched in the codes that would prepare the castle for a fight. If something, the Star spirits forbid, were to overcome the army, the navy, and the air force, the civilians would fight the last desperate battle for their kingdom. Eleanor turned to her two sons, Koopa Troopa, and Paratroopa. They were her biological children, and Bowsers step-sons.
"Koopa, go to the northern tower and prepare to evolve. Paratroopa, go to the southern tower and prepare to evolve. You two may be Koopalins last hope." Eleanor said.
"Yes, mother." Both turtles ran off.
Eleanor turned to the window, where Kamick continued to relay his message, over and over again.
"The last one is through the door. You can stop, now." Eleanor said.
"Okay. Grandma Kammy's here, and her magic will protect you. I need to go join the army. As soon as you here me call, sent out Koopa and Paratroopa." Kamick used his magic to teleport out to the army.
"Be careful, out there, Bowser, my love." Eleanor whispered. She went and found Kammy.
"Do you know who is attacking us?" She asked.
Kammy turned to her.
"Belmoth has been reawakened. He is who we are fighting. I sent an emergency message to Skyland, Nimbus Land, Mushroom Kingdom, Beanbean Kingdom, the Sky Legion, Kong isles, Yoshi's Island, and to King Boo for help. They may not get here in time. This may be Koopalins last stand." Kammy answered. Just then, they heard Kamick call.
"Its Belmoth! Send out Koopa and Paratroopa now!" Kamick called.
"Go, Koopa, Go Paratroopa! They need you!" Eleanor called.
From the northern tower, a mighty dragon burst forth. This was Alda, guardian of fire. He was the evolved form of Koopa Troopa. He was covered in red scales, and large leathery wings stroked the air. Steam poured from Alda's nostrils. From the southern tower, a blue serpent shot forth. This was Calmar, guardian of water. He was the evolved form of Paratroopa. He was covered in blue scales, and coiled through the air. Long arms with three fingered hands, tipped with silver claws, pressed up against his heaving sides. Both guardians flew out to battle. Belmoth looked up as his Dark Army battled the Koopalin Army. The Koopalin Army knew that it had to hold on its own until the other Kingdoms came. This would be their last stand for their home.
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Queen Sunstar: And thus, ends another exciting chapter. Can Koopalin hold off Belmoth, the Dark Creator himself, until the other kingdoms come? Find out in the next chapter, A Force to be Reckoned With, coming soon. In this chapter, the next shadow key is found, and Luigi must decide whether or not to leave his brothers and lead the Skyland Army against Belmoth, thus leaving his brothers to continue on without him to find the remaining five keys.
Twila: Please remember to review! Queen Sunstar does not care about what the reviews say about the story. She wants to know if it is good, bad, or what not. Don't be afraid, now. She will not complain! You can criticize the story to pieces, if you feel like it, and Queen Sunstar will be happy to correct any mistakes!
Queen Sunstar: I won't bite, honest! I love getting reviews! Review, review, review!