What's up, everyone! Scorpion here, bringing you part two of The Grandmasters!

A long wait, I know, but you can't rush an art. Still, I tried to get this up without losing what quality can be found in it. I hope I did well.

For those just starting, WHY ARE YOU NOT READING FROM THE BEGINNING? DON'T SPOIL YOURSELF!

That said, a little recap. Some evil is on our lovely planet and Rosalina came down to try to stop it. Geno, receiving a letter requesting his assistance, arrives as well. On the earth side of things, Astronomer Candis Serena and Tim discovers what appears to be a space ship orbiting our planet. Other the that, nothing important.

Technical stuff: Rosalina, the lumas, and Mario (He only gets mentioned. Just covering my ass) belongs to Nintendo. Geno belongs to Square Enix (again, WHY?).

Alright, time for the meat of it. *Clears Throat* Second Movement...

The Witch, the Hunter, and the Gift

Dr. Serena immediately realized what the subject of the phone call would be as she picked it up off the hook. Government agencies and other corporations like to watch the activities of NRAO to find any new discoveries or make sure that the satellites are not pointed to somewhere that they have no business pointing to. This wasn't the first time the doctor stepped on someone else's toes, so she knows how to avert disaster, or at the very least, soften the blow.

"Observation Room," Dr. Serena greeted in the most polite way possible.

A few seconds passed with no answer. Before the thought of a mistaken number crossed the doctor's mind, a gruff, serious voice abounded though the receiver with a great deal of authority. "Is this the head astronomer of NRAO?"

"This is the active scientist. I am Doc…"

"We're fully aware of who you are, Ms. Serena," the voice interrupted. "My associates are big fans of your work, and have monitored you for some time now. We understand that you have stumbled into something… unique?"

"Unique?"

"Yes. Like I said," the mysterious man continued, "We've been monitoring your work and NARO. Keeping and 'up to date' account of your work through your equipment's software."

"You mean as in spying on us? Like… illegally spying on us?"

"No. Us 'Illegally spying' would imply 'not having the proper clearance', which we do have, both from NARO's executives and… other groups and organizations. I also have knowledge on you and your career. For example," The man took a deep breath before continuing, "'Doctor Candis Serena, Head Astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Socorro, New Mexico. Race and Gender: Caucasian female. Age: 43. You obtained a Ph. D. in Astronomy and Physics from the Colombia University, as well as a Master's Degree in Literature and are working on your Ph. D in Theoretical Physics. You worked at the University of Colorado, where you completed your thesis on the Relativity and Astrobiology, until transferring to NARO, where you spent the last 10 years. You now live off of Jefferson Ave. in Lovington, NM. Your divorced (sorry about that), no children, and have one German Shepard.

"We do have more, but I do have other business I have to attend to. I don't wish to impose any more than I have to, so… about the Unidentified Object…"

The doctor was dumbfounded. She felt her jaw was dropping with every word he uttered. In her line of work, the doctor learned to cut the access to her information as much as possible. There are a very few places to get her information, making it even stranger that he knew so much about her history. After calming down, she decided to play along, hoping that she didn't cross someone dangerous to her career, or her life.

"I'm s-sorry, I didn't catch your name," the doctor forced out, trying in a feeble attempt to even the playing field.

The man began without missing a beat "I never gave it. As I was saying, we've recently located an unidentified object in orbit around our planet. You have as well, correct?"

"Even if I did, I don't have the authority to give out that information, especially to someone who won't identify themselves," the doctor retorted with some aggression.

She immediately regretted that last line.

"Ma'am, all you need to know is that my employers can either make your career, or make it and the rest of your life hell. We need people to confirm our finding and we are just asking for your coöperation on the matter."

Silence. Neither side gave an inch. A scientist isn't known to just give up their findings out of intimidation, and Dr. Serena is NOT intimidated of this man, regardless of who he works for. On the other hand, if his 'employers' were the government in which NARO gets their funding from, then antagonizing him or them wouldn't be the brightest idea. On the other hand, she wasn't going to give up her research to someone simply because he has some iota of authority, regardless of what he could do to her. The doctor wasn't going to simply fold to anyone. Never have. Never will.

The cold war continued until, finally, the man decided that making enemies with someone who can be useful later. It wouldn't really matter if she was against him, for he had more than enough resources to find someone who would be a little more cooperative. However; this is a matter of convince, and he doesn't want to be up all night.

He huffed and broke the silence, "Alright. All I can really tell you is my employers have researched the object for a while. It may hold the answers to many of our scientific questions that we have and advance our research. With your areas of expertise, we may find those answers faster; hence, the phone call. Now, in about five minutes, a limo will pull up to your office. Gather anything that you need as well as a copy of the data that you recently gathered. Instruct you intern, Tim, to do the same, and when the car arrives, get in it. It will take you to where everything else can be explained, securely. Understood?"

The doctor looked at Tim with worry. Tim stood there, listening intently to her side of the conversation, wondering who on the other line would cause the paleness that covered her face. If this stranger knows about Tim, then there is no point trying to keep him from getting involved. In a vain attempt to save her pride, the doctor came back on him one more time

"And if we refuse?" Doctor Serena asked.

A second passed…

"I don't remember giving you a choice."

Click.

Doctor Serena contemplated on what to say and do next. She knew that he made himself more enigmatic as a fear tactic, and that he probably won't hurt them. However, ashamed to admit it, it worked. There is no telling who or what that man was a part of, and if he doesn't hurt them, his 'employers' might. She wasn't going to risk Tim's life on a theory that they won't, so she began to do as the man said and gathered what she needed, as quickly as her aged frame can manage.

"Tim, you copy down the readings on to a CD, and get your things."

"Where are we going, Doc?" Tim asked, worried about the doctor's increased level of stress

"I have no clue, but we'll be gone for a while."

"Should we, like, call the cops or something?" Tim asked.

"Look, they've been monitoring our progress for… God knows how long, and they have access to all of our information! I don't even want to know what would happen if they find out we called the police!" the doctor explained sharply. With that, the two nervously continued gathering the notes and anything they may need. All without say a word.

As they walked outside, with drives and sheets of data stored in the doctor's briefcase, they noticed a tinted stretch limousine waiting in front of door. A man in a business suit stood in front of the passenger side door, holding it open for what they assumed was for them. The doctor and her assistant stopped for a second, once again considering their options: 'Should we run?', 'Should we fight?' and again realizing that they really have none. They quietly piled in the vehicle, praying that this trip would not be their last.

The door closed and limo began its long trip to its destination.

00000000

In-Gin R&D: 'Field Acquisition Team' Office

Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains

"L.O.S IS IN ORBIT. COMMENCE INITIATIVE ACCORDING TO PLANNED PROCEDURE."

Hours ago, this memo arrived in the inbox of all those on the "operation.' Those involved are few, especially those in the company itself, but each one had an important role to fulfill. Scientists and personal within the operation began to scurry around, diverting from their original duties to see to the project, while those outside were either left perplexed or simply didn't care. Very few took stock in the actions of others or their motives, and since this operation involved extraterrestrial beings, it was probably for the best, or so thought the middle-aged man sitting in his private office.

Actually, even after working as an agent of the company for the better part of ten years, he doesn't know what to think. He always considered himself a realist. Everything that he has been through in his live has left little room for fantasy.

The man sat in his office, starting at the stack of over 200 numbers that were given to him to call. All were scientist, astronomers, and many other experts of various fields who are aware of the UFO in orbit. His current task is to bring them in for question and recruit them to their operation if he can, or prevent them from leaking to the media. The media's involvement is inevitable, but they can at least stall them until the operation is complete.

So far, he made of over 70 calls in the past hour, with number 71 being the only one to give him some form of grief. 'Doctor Serena sounds like she is going to be a handful,' he thought as he picked up the phone to make another call.

The numbers started to blur together from the fatigue, so he began to rub his eyes. A few seconds later, he reopened his eyes, and saw a shadow blocking the overhead light in front of him. The agent looked up and saw the expressionless face of his partner literally a half a foot in front of his and jumped in spite of himself. "Jeez, Marcy!" the old agent whispered, trying to pick up what is left of his composer. "It's called 'knocking.' Ever heard of it?"

"No," the female agent said flatly. The young, raven-haired agent placed a vanilla folder on top of the paper of numbers haphazardly. "We have a job, Will."

Agent William Olivier Willis, or Will, looked at Marcella Seever with annoyance in his face before looking down at the folder itself. He picked it up and began reading its contents. His eyes widening as he scanned the pages. "She's on the planet?" the agent asked.

"Satellites detected a strong energy source in Death Valley's playa area. Unknown in origin, however, considering recent evidence, the only possible explanation is that the L.O.S. is on the planet's surface. The director wants us to take a team and detain the subject once located," Mercy said in a stoic, near monotone voice. Agent Willis, however, knew her long enough to know that she is, oddly enough, excited.

"You do know that it's still could be another false alarm. I would really hate for what happened in Vegas…" Willis began to recollect.

Mercy spoke up, "Don't remind me, Will. I'm sure that our intelligence is correct, this time."

"Out of all the times you said that it was a 'waste of time'."

"Again, don't remind me. The past is the past, but there's no doubt about it… this time." Mercy leaned in over William's desk, in clear violation of his personal space. "Trust me," she cooed with a smirk.

They stared at each other for a minute. Marcy's 'trust me' face was extremely unsettling for agent Willis. She forced him to look into those cold, icy blue eyes. When their eyes met in the very first meeting, a cold shiver flew up and down his spine. After five years of working with her, that cold shiver never went away. She knows this too, as she always enjoyed braking him down and watching him squirm.

Unable to stay comfortable with her in her face, he caved. "Alright, alright! When does the chopper leave?"

"In 30 minutes," Mercy said, finally backing off. "The orders are to bring the subject and any of her companions in alive and, preferably, unharmed."

Agent Willis grabbed his jacket and his sidearm. "Let's hope this isn't another wild goose chase," Williams said as he grabbed the folder and headed through the office door. Mercy was close behind him, hiding a mischievous smirk on her face.

'Looks like the opening move has been made,' she thought. 'Everything is beginning to fall in to place.'

00000000

Junior, Solaris, and Quasar floated wildly around Geno, excited to see their old friend from the star road. Rosalina just stood beside just stood beside Polari, smiling, as the three lumas ran Geno over with questions, like where he's been, what adventures he's been on since the last time they have met, and if he brought some presents, namely star bits. Geno simply laughed at their enthusiasm. They are lumas, after all.

"Okay, young ones," Rosalina said. Her soft voice split through the lamas' chatter, instantaneously grabbing their attention. "Geno traveled a long way to get here. Let him rest a little while."

"Aww, but Mama, I wanted to hear about Geno's adventures," moaned Solaris, saying what the three was thinking collectively.

Geno, as much as he enjoyed entertaining the lumas, knew the severity of their situation, and sided with their mama. "Hey, guys, how about you hold those questions, and when there's time, I'll answer all of 'em, okay?"

Quasar and Solaris, understandingly, gave Geno some space. Junior, however, still wanted the answer to his question.

"Sorry, kid. I would've brought some star bits, but I don't have pockets."

Junior's face slumped at the news, but brightens up again quickly. He was still happy to see him after a long while, that was enough for now. Finally, he joined the others as Geno moved towards Rosalina. The tone noticeably changed from happy to serious as Geno began to understand why he was called.

"Something wicked, this way comes, huh?" Geno asked, "I sensed it from four planets away."

Rosalina took a deep breath and began, "At first, I thought it was just the growing population and activity of this planet. But the growth of dark energy was too high to be natural. It too unbalanced. Now, I have no doubt that a dangerous being is here and has lain dormant all this time." A sad expression overtook her face as the watcher look intensely at Geno. "I am sorry, Geno. I wish this meeting was under better circumstance."

Everyone else listened to the conversation closely, trying to understand the subject. Quasar, Solaris, and Junior were completely confused. No one has yet to explain what they were sensing all this time. Polari and Pulsar, however, grasped the problem at hand.

Geno continued the conversation, "Your letter said that there were dying traces of this thing in the Mushroom Kingdom. Knowing Grandmaster Mario, it was probably destroyed almost as soon as it popped up."

"Such evil cannot just 'be destroyed', Geno," she answered with a rare grimness. "Darkness of this caliber will simply find a new placed to fester. If it is strong enough, its essence alone can transcend worlds, time, and even dimensions. Unfortunately, it was only a matter of time and opportunity before it returned. I just hope we are not too late to subdue it."

The tension thickened with those words. They very rarely see her at a loss and thought quickly on how to make her smile once more.

"Don't quit, don't quit," Junior squeaked, breaking though the tension.

"Shrimp's right," Quasar added, "There's no point sitting here doing nothing. If this 'evil' pops its head out, we'll just pop it off."

Solaris and Junior cheered at Quasar's rally call. Pulsar wasn't as enthused. "In case you three dim-wits forgot, we are talking about some sort of powerful creature that it can possibly sacking an entire civilized world with its own power alone. We, however, are five lumas, a star spirit with no physical form, and Mama, who, despite her impressive power, has absolutely zero skills in comb-…"

"Oh!" Rosalina interrupted. "I am sorry; Pulsar, but you just reminded me of something important."

Rosalina signaled the others to give her some room. Geno and the lumas complied and moved a few feet from her. She brought out her wand and closed her eyes. As her wand flashed, sand and dust swirled violently around her. The party watched in awe as she opened her eyes, glowing in a bright teal hue.

With a slight whip of the wand, another orb of light manifested at the tip. The orb grew in size quickly until it was about as large as Quasar.

*Poof*

The orb dissolved in to a puff of smoke. When it settled, a doll was in its place. It was a wooden doll, with a royal blue cape draping its shoulders and a matching cap covering its red, curly hair.

Geno recognized it immediately. It was the doll he used as a baby during his fight with the Smithy Gang a while back, with some noticeable differences. First it isn't as bulky as the original. The toy was crafted with more human like definitions, with more slender and stream-like properties. Plus, most noticeably, there were shorts to this model. He guessed it would be awkward, walking around in a doll with no pants on, though that would probably be the least of anyone's concerns when people sees him. Finally, on the part of the cape over the right arm, there was a picture of the Star Road sewn in. It was quite impressive to see.

"The toy you told us about is pretty rare now, so I asked for what it looked like and carried a new one, with some small alterations," said the watcher with a smile, "I hope it works just as well"

He takes a quick orbit around it as it floats, giving it a quick scan to see he can make of it. He brightens up in confirmation as he fused with the doll without a world. The toy began to glow, doubling in size every second and flashing every time. The younger lumas, including Pulsar, watching in amazement as the doll went from hand size to the about a human child. Finally, the fully grown doll descended to the sand.

The doll began to slowly open its eyes with lids the lumas didn't even know it had. With a blink, Geno began to look around, moving his new neck and torso and getting use to them. He moved his arms, fingers, knees, and feet and didn't feel one fault in them. After moving around for a moment, and a few stumbles along the way, he began to move like a normal person.

"I also restored some of the original abilities that you said you processed in your previous adventure, as well as add one or two other secrets that may help."

Geno turned to Rosalina, "I'm going to assume that you are not going to tell me what those 'secrets' are?"

"Consider it a challenge, from one good friend to another," she said with a smirk.

"Oh well," Geno relented, "This will be perfect. Thanks."

"Can't wait to see what this puppy can do," Quasar stated in anticipation, with Junior chirping in agreement.

"I don't know. I prefer 'star spirit' Geno better, but I can get used to it," Solaris cooed.

Geno was noticeably flustered, causing everyone to laugh.

"Yeah, that's great and all," Polaris began in a huff, "but, did you fools forget why we are here? This isn't the time to have fun!"

"Cool off, pip-squeak," Quasar retorted. "There's nothing wrong with having a little fun once in a while."

"Besides, who died and made you leader?" Solaris added in equal frustration.

"First off, there is something wrong!" the blue luma yelled, "There is a malevolent abomination that is about to sack this world, and it's all a game to you! Second, I don't think of myself as leader, but someone needs to keep you knuckle heads focused!"

"Why don't come a little closer and say that, runt!" Quasar threatened.

Before tensions can rise higher, there Mama stepped in between them. "That's enough, you two," She commanded.

"But, he started it, Mama," Quasar said.

"What!?" Pulsar questioned.

A stern expression from the Mama silenced them both, ending the argument. "You are right, Pulsar, we do have to be vigilant," her expression changed from strict to a soft smile, "but, finding time to laugh can also help us from being too stressed. There is no need for you to be angry. None of you needs to be angry or feel burdened."

Everyone turned their attention towards her, as she addressed them. "Listen, it is time to begin our mission. We are here to prevent the evil from taking this world and spreading to others. It is difficult, which is why we need to set aside our difference to complete our tasks. Understood?"

"Yes, Mama!" the lumas said together. Pulsar was not as enthusiastic, but agreed nether the less.

"And we can count on you. Right, Geno?"

"Your wish is my command, my friend," Geno answered.

"It was wise to contact Geno," Polari said, "But are you sure that they need to be involved? They are still young, and reckless."

"I know what you are saying, Polari, but I did not make that decision lightly," she answered. "I have a feeling that the success of this mission will hinge on the five of them together. These young lumas will meet their true callings while they are here. I can't explain it, but I can feel it."

"As long as you are sure, I guess," Polari relented. He knows that when she gets a feeling, there is no changing her mind. Polari, despite the fact that those feelings were never wrong, couldn't help but be skeptical.

As the wind began to pick up, she continued, "Now, I have an idea of what we need to do next and a plan to stop the evil before it…"

Rosalina's voice trailed off as the wind became wild. A loud, chopping noise started to come closer to them from the night sky. They all looked towards the source of the sound, seeing a silhouette of a flying craft. A bright light turned on, illuminating the ground they were on and blinding them, the dust making it even harder to see. As the lumas huddled in fear, Rosalina and Geno stood, side by side, between it and the young ones, ready to defend them if the need arises.

"Attention, unidentified beings," a voice boomed from the flying craft. "We have orders to bring you in for questioning. If you can understand this, then drop any and all weapons you have and put your hands or the like in the air, immediately!"

Helicopters, huh?

Looks like things are finally moving forward! What was that? 'About time'?

Jeez, everyone's a critic. .

Just joking! Anyone who is willing to give my story a chance is okay in my book. Anyway, thanks for indulging in my little project. Though little in this case is a bit of a stretch. :-)

Look out for part Three. I will post it... whenever I am done writing it. And for those who are asking, that 'other project' is still in the works.

"We have not wings we cannot soar; but, we have feet to scale and climb, by slow degrees, by more and more, the cloudy summits of our time." ~Henry W. Longfellow

I hope you New Years was a good one. Enjoy 2013!

This is Scorpion, signing out! T.T.F.N!