"Oof!"Mario had landed flat on his back. On the bright side, travelling through voids seemed to be somewhat gentle, as they didn't break any bones, no matter how disorienting the portals were.

"Urgh… where are we now?" Luigi groaned.

"A rather convenient location."

"Merlon!" Peach exclaimed.

"So you're that wizard guy! I'm Daisy… normally I'd say it's nice to meet you, but…" The princess shrugged.

"I understand. I could say the same for you, Princess Daisy. Peach and Luigi have spoken about you at length and I was eager to meet you, if possible. I understand that diplomatic reasons held you back. But enough of pleasantries. The Light Prognosticus is reacting. It's the end of worlds all over again," the wizard sighed.

"Then it's a good thing we're here! Heck, I only know of a few other contenders for the 'avoided an apocalypse' count lead!" Daisy said, throwing her arms over the two closest people to her, who were Luigi and Timpani.

Blumiere bowed his head and sighed. Timpani linked her arm through his, her way of saying "it's not your fault."

He smiled, but only slightly.

"All worlds must end eventually… but it's too soon, too soon," the wizard murmured, "that's why the book is reacting. If it was the true end, it would stay silent."

"What does it say now?"

"The guy in green is a mystery

His identity lies in your history.

More questions than answers have been revealed.

But go to a land where evil was repealed.

Therein lies an ancient door

Is sealed for ages more

Old friends shall show the way

And help you all to save the day.

The magician's book is what you'll need

In order to match a hedgehog's speed! The last line hardly makes sense to me… don't hedgehogs run at about 20 kilometers per hour?"

"Most, yes," Mario responded, "but there's one who can really run…"

"Sonic," Luigi finished.

"Didn't he participate in battling the Subspace Army? He came a bit late…" Peach asked.

"Wait. Subspace. Bro, wasn't that material purple?" Luigi asked.

"… Let's hope you're wrong for once, Luigi."

Luigi muttered something darkly before speaking up. "Sonic arrived so late because his world wasn't connected to ours yet. Subspace engulfed his world, too, and that's when he was able to join the fight and destroy Taboo's wings."

Timpani looked around. Her husband looked as confused as she felt.

"I feel as if we are missing a vital piece of the conversation," Blumiere stated.

Peach shook her head. "It would take too long to explain right now. We'll explain later if need be, but just know that Sonic claimed that he took up the name because he can run faster than the speed of sound."

"He's never actually show us, but I have no problems believing it. He ran around the stages and never seemed tired of running," Mario said, "Is there a speed spell in that book of yours, Blumiere?"

Blumiere shrugged. "Probably. Only a few spells are printed, but I already learned these. I suppose the spell will come when it is needed. It's much like the Prognostici; it has many blank pages."

Luigi appeared to be deep in thought. None disturbed him. Luigi had a knack for putting pieces together, and if was trying to figure out the prophecy, he'd need all the concentration he can get.

"The guy in green is someone we know. So at least we won't have to deal with trying to tell strangers what we're doing. And also, I think we need to return to Rougeport. That's where the Thousand Year Door is, right Bro?"

Mario nodded. "The ancient door line?"

"Yes. You should probably also tell Goombella; old friends shall show the way."

"Well, it appears you all have gotten it sorted out. Feel free to stop by the stores and pick up some items or to go get food from Saffron. Not much has changed here since you left, but I don't think the door in Flopside leads to your old castle, Blumiere, as it was destroyed in the end," Merlon informed.

"Good. May it rot."

The residents of the Mushroom Kingdom were surprised at the venom in his voice. Then again, they supposed, they probably shouldn't be.

"I don't believe I've heard of Rougeport, but the door to the castle should take you to where you want to go," Merlon continued, unperturbed.

"That's… an awfully large coincidence," Bowser noted, "I mean, first that Launch Star, now the door?"

Merlon shrugged. "The universe is being destroyed before its time. Perhaps it knew about that and is doing everything it can to save itself."

"Survival instinct," Timpani spoke up, surprising everyone, "Every living thing in this universe has it; so instinct probably told someone the Launch Star needed to be built or that your castle needed to be torn down."

"Whatever it is, I'm just glad that the odds are in our favor," Daisy replied.

Mario nodded. "Enough dawdling. Should we see if the shops have any items we could use?"

Peach nodded. "We don't have any healing items yet. Unless you want to try the vegetable tactic?"

"No offense, sugar, but seein as how you can pull out Bob-Ombs I'd rather not risk our luck." Daisy's face contorted at the mention of eating Bob-Ombs.

"True enough. We'll be back." The two princesses departed.

"Merlon?" Timpani requested the wizard's attention.

"Oh?"

"Do you still have that stuff?"

"What- oh, of course! I'm surprised you hadn't asked for it sooner."

"There was no need for it. I knew what it was… I just didn't know why I had that urge that I would need it."

"There are still pieces missing from it, you know."

"Good thing I got them in the Flower Kingdom then."

Merlon laughed. "Ah, the universe prepared well indeed if you are that determined. It's in the same place we left it all that time ago."

"Thank you." And with that, the dark-skinned female left towards Merlon's house.

"What?" Mario, Luigi, and Bowser all asked simultaneously. All of them looked at Blumiere, who would probably be far less cryptic in his response. But the Count just held up his hands.

"I'll let her surprise you."

And that she did. The three males thought she resembled Samus like that, seeing as how she now had a mecha arm attached to her right hand and a backpack that looked slightly heavy on her back.

"It shouldn't be," Timpani responded to a question that the male Mushroom Kingdom residents had missed due to their stupor. Blumiere linked his right arm through her left and kissed her head before muttering something in her ear. She smiled, but did not reply.

Both the princesses came back. Daisy caught sight of the gleaming mech and whistled.

"Dang, honey, you got that? All I have is sports equipment…"

"Which has its purposes. Once I run out of ammo, this thing is dead weight," Timpani informed, "There is no such thing as a perfect weapon. But yours have infinite uses, so there's a pro to that."

"True that! Are we ready to go?" Daisy looked around. Everyone nodded.

"Good luck, heroes. I will report to you all as soon as Rosalina gives me more information." Merlon walked into his house, presumably to study the magic book once more.

The heroes went down the pipe to Flopside, going up the elevator in the mirror world to the door that once lead to Castle Bleck.

"Dear Count… does the name Blumiere mean anything to you?" the familiar demented voice echoed around Blumiere's head as they approached the door. The Count shook the voice away.

"To Rougeport!" Mario opened the door and everyone walked into the blinding light.

A/N: It appears that our heroes forgot something very important… like telling Merlon what the heck happened? And talking to Goombella? …That might be because of me. But it will get sorted, don't worry.

Also, I do hope I'm being cryptic enough with the guy in green. I mean, we already know it's not Luigi… but if it's not him, there are many more who could be… green is a popular color, after all.

Perhaps this chapter hides a well-hidden clue? Or perhaps it is obvious, if it is there at all…

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

(Current Length: about 19.75 pages and 6,613 words in MS Word.)