"Urgh… is everyone all right?" Bowser lifted himself off the ground. Affirmatives came from everyone, including the kids. Blumiere helped Timpani to her feet, as did Mario and Luigi with Peach and Daisy respectively. Bowser Jr. Helped Wendy up and the rest of the Koopalings got upon their own.
"Where are we?"
"The Comet Observatory," a soft voice replied.
The whole group turned to face a very tall woman with a black, puffy star floating next to her.
"Rosalina!" Mario exclaimed.
"I must say, I'm surprised you ended up here…" Rosalina spoke.
"'Ended up'?" Blumiere questioned.
"Yes…" Rosalina glided past them, motioning with her wand towards the holographic screen that once displayed the map.
The group followed.
"I must say, I'm surprised to see you here again, Bowser." Rosalina displayed no hostility, but she did have a sort of hardness in her eye when she looked back.
Bowser sighed. "That wasn't me. That was my relative, King Koopa. Even though he's not actually the King of Koopas… it was a rough time. He caught me off guard and well… stuff happened. I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused."
"Me too." Bower Jr.'s voice was soft and low, out of character for the little tyke.
"It's alright… it was rectified. And, little one, children cannot be blamed for wrongdoings, only taught that they are wrong."
Bowser Jr. nodded, but still walked forward to his father. Bowser put a reassuring hand on his back.
"Not to be rude," Blumiere spoke up, "But why did you say 'ended up' here?" They had arrived at the holographic screen.
Rosalina sighed. "There has been a cosmic disturbance… and it does not affect only this realm."
"So it was chance that we wound up here. But what brought us?" Luigi pondered.
"A void," Count Blumiere and Rosalina spoke at the same time.
"How did you know what a void was?" the black Luma asked.
The Count tipped his hat over his eyes, trying to hide his shame. "A dark time in my life… I used them."
Rosalina shook her head. "You are not using them now, and that's what we are concerned about."
"Holes in space have appeared. They seem to affect not only your world, but many others as well. We are unsure if time is stable or if it too is being reshaped," the Luma continued, "While not the first event in history like this, the range of it… it's second to one, and the story of that is long since lost."
"So, in short, unless we find and defeat or destroy the source, we're screwed?" Timpani deadpanned.
Rosalina nodded. "We're doing all we can to help. But there are only so many Lumas who can."
"Good thing we're not Lumas, then," Peach threw in.
"What do we need to do?" Luigi continued.
Rosalina bowed her head. "It is a great burden to place on you once more. I must apologize. I know you hardly catch a break."
Daisy shrugged. "Oh well. At least this time, we've got a lot more people on our side!"
"I hate to interrupt this pep talk… but an adventure is no place for children. Can you send them back?" Bowser asked, gesturing to the Koopalings.
"Yes… there is a Launch Star in the Garage."
"Can they use it without Luma, Polari?"Mario inquired.
"Yes. It's a special Launch Star, and should land you where you wish."
"Thank you." Bowser inclined his head and guided the children to the Launch Star, telling them where to think of.
"Tell her that the blue shell has struck. She'll understand."
One by one, each of the Koopalings left.
"Bye, dad." Bowser Junior said before he hopped in the star and left.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group asked Rosalina what they could do.
"You must find the source… I doubt you will manage to return here, but I can give you this." Rosalina pulled a familiar book from hammerspace.
"The Light Prognosticus?" Timpani asked, confused. "That doesn't make sense… its purpose was concluded, wasn't it?"
"If it's here, dear, probably not… even the Dark Prognosticus had empty pages. Knowing too much of the future is never a good thing," Blumiere said.
"The who da what now?"
"Prophecy books, Daisy," Luigi informed. "Apparently, we're now under those influences once more."
Timpani had opened the book at this point.
"Well, not quite, heroes."
"Merlon!" Timpani exclaimed. "How?"
"It seems as if I'm not the only one aware of the influxes… Rosalina, do you have any information?"
Rosalina shook her head. "Only that space itself is disturbed… some of the Lumas are crying. I must tend to them soon to make sure they sleep well."
"I feared as much… these voids are different from the last one you battled against," Merlon informed. "As for how I know Rosalina or am communicating through this book are questions for another time. But we need your aid once more, heroes! The entirety of existence depends on you!"
Daisy spoke up. "Just say the word, magic man! Where's the first stop and what are we looking for?"
"The first place you must go to is Lineland. I don't know exactly what you are looking for, but the Light Prognostics told me this:
As the Sandman turns the fated wheel,
In this land past wounds will heal,
This will shine and shimmer and glow,
When the magician deals the final blow.
This land of old,
Riddles will unfold.
Go forth heroes, use all your might.
For all worlds are doomed if you cannot unite.
The book you hold now is only a replica of the Prognosticus. I will research more and tell you what I find."
Rosalina nodded. "I too will use this book to communicate with you, though you will often see Polari's face in place of my own. I must depart now. Good luck, all of you." And with that, Rosalina floated off somewhere in the Observatory.
Mario nodded. "Lineland it is." He handed the book to Peach, who put it in her pouch.
"So," Luigi started, "who wants to learn how to use a Launch Star first?"
A/N: I like Rosalina. She's pretty fun to play in Smash Bros. too.
And I know this seems awfully similar to my plot in Zarla's Story… but it's not going to be that convoluted this time, I promise. It will stay within the Nintendo franchise and mostly in Mario's part of that.
Disclaimer: I don't own Nintendo.
(Current Length: about 10.75 pages and 3,610 words in MS Word.)