Ears ringing, Toad opened his eyes. He felt a tremendous pain in his left hip, and came to the correct conclusion getting up (or trying to) would be a bad idea. He felt no hat on his head. His clothes felt burnt and one of his hairs was singed; it must be from the explosion. It was still the middle of the night, sky as black as oil. Toad hadn't been unconscious for long.
Toad heard distant murmurs from where the crash site was. He tried to focus on them but the pain was so intense it was just too hard. Toad felt paralysed in fear and in pain. He had no idea what was on that comet thing - friend or foe? And he knew if he moved he would probably wish he never did due to the pain that would come with it.
It had been a good few minutes by now and Toad's pain wasn't so great any more. Yes, it still hurt like mad but it had been going on for a while so he became used to it. He heard voices coming from the comet. Wait a second - voices coming from a comet. Yeah right. Toad had just survived an explosion, his mind had to be messing with him.
Yet, they were voices the mini mushroom man recognised. Though he hadn't heard them in years. So long, or so it seemed, that he'd forgotten about them until now. Toad focused his ears on the sounds…
"Why did I even trust you? Everytime I do something goes wrong!" A voice shouted.
"That a good point, Rosalina, why did you tr-" The voice got cut off as the other one came back.
"Argh! I thought I could, ok? I thought I could the last thirty-four times!" Rosalina screeched. "But all you do is let me down! Every single time! I've had it with you!"
Toad felt almost as if the more he listened the clearer the speech became. Then he realised that the voices were getting louder and that they were there, they weren't in his head. One of the speakers had said the name Rosalina. That name sounded very, very familiar to Toad.
"Erm, sorry to interrupt, but…" a voice from before said.
"What is it now, Lubba?" Rosalina questioned, infuriated, "Sorry, did we run out of sugared star bits? Oh no! We passed the supermarket snack aisle! Oops, we missed your favour-"
"Look, Rosalina, I get it, I messed up big time," Lubba owned up, "and I'm sorry. You can rebuke me all you want later, but there's a Toad and a broken telescope lying on the floor."
Toad could have sworn he heard a "Oh, oh, my! You tend the lumas, I'll help." However, he was busy thinking. Broken telescope? Oh no. It was Toad's grandfather's telescope. He began to worry about it being broken as Lubba said. But then he heard some footsteps. Tilting his head upwards ever so slightly, he saw a damaged spaceship (no comet) and a tall figure in a light blue dress heading his way.
"H-help me please." Toad begged. He reached his arm out but retracted it shortly because it hurt so much. At last he saw the figure up close. She was beautiful in Toad's eyes. He looked at this woman like she was the love of his life. Rosalina was too concerned about this person lying on the floor to take a proper look at him. She was wearing a light blue dress. It looked a bit scruffy and torn, but that was excusable because she had just survived a spaceship crash. Her face looked soft and her features exquisite. Her blond hair looked amazing even though it had been in a high-speed incident.
She reached out her arms to help Toad up, and spoke. "I am so, so, sorry."
As Toad was helped up, he winced in pain. Staring at the telescope scattered on the floor in pieces, he couldn't help but frown. "My hat, please," he asked.
It was only when Rosalina glanced and picked up Toad's white with red spotted hat that she recognised him.
"C-Captain Toad? Of th-the Toad Brig-Brigade?" She stuttered, remembering of the years past.
For a second Toad didn't remember his own name. Then he replied, "Yes, that's me. Oh, and by the way, just call me Toad." Even though Captain was his proper title (appointed by Princess Peach) Toad had always preferred his birth name, Toad.
Then it clicked in Toad's mind. Rosalina, as the 'Lubba' character had said. Rosalina, Rosalina, Rosalina, Rosa- "Rosalina?!" Toad sounded awfully shocked. Indeed he was. "I haven't seen you in… years."
"And nor have I," Rosalina then asked, "How is the brigade?"
Then, Toad spontaneously collapsed. Well, not completely spontaneous (Toad was aching all over), but it was still pretty random. "I think I need an ambulance."
Author's note: Thanks for the follow/fav! It really helps motivate me. Sorry I didn't write yesterday! Hopefully there will be more in two days...