We are back!

Siph: With Roy too! How long is this section going to be?

I don't know. We're in a transition period that I have zero plans for how to get through, or even what I want to do with it.

Siph: So basically you're writing by the seat of your pants from now on.

Until what are likely to be the final 3 to 5 chapters, yeah.

Disclaimer: *clapping rhythmically and singing* I. Don't know. What the heck I'm doing. I. Don't know. What the heck I'm doing. I. Don't know. What the heck I'm doing. Someone send me some kind of heeeeelp!

Chapter 48: Starstruck

Outside Toad Town Clinic, Roy held his brothers tightly. Nearby, Mario clutched the Magical Map as he and Peach eyed it suspiciously.

"H-how dark do you think it'll be on the way to rendezvous with the others?" Toad stammered, looking up at the darkened sky.

"Shouldn't be too bad with some light spells or our fire breath," Larry suggested, struggling against Roy's well-intentioned chokehold.

"Fire…" Toad repeated. He steeled his eyes. "Good idea!" He ran off suddenly.

Roy watched him go. "What's he doin'? It don't look like he's running to hide."

"He's really scared, too," Junior pointed out. "But that mushroom's running on a mission, instead of panicking like they all usually do."

Peach broke her attention off the map and smiled after her attendant. "Toad always channels his fears into energy to help out where he can. Above all he wants to be productive and a hero in his own right. It's one of my favorite qualities in him."

Toadette piped up. "It's that energy that helped him defeat Wario when he took over the Peaceful Woods."

Roy almost dropped Larry and Bowser Jr. "Wait, that pipsqueak beat Wario?"

Toadette nodded, beaming. "He had support from the sprites and Birdos living there, but he faced Wario one-on-one and came out on top!"

Roy gave a low whistle. "I never woulda guessed. Not bad for a pipsqueak mushroom."

Toadette scowled and cleared her throat. "As another pipsqueak mushroom, I'll have you know I know my way around boots and hammers, so you better watch what you say about my brother and me."

Roy smirked at her. "I think I'll take my chances."

"If you're gonna fight, please let go of us first," Larry deadpanned.

Roy tightened his grip on Larry and Junior instead. "No."

Bowser Jr. groaned, "It's not like the sky is gonna attack us."

"He's got a point," Mario chuckled. "You don't need to be that protective anymore."

Roy's grin widened. "It started out cuz of that, but now that is annoying 'em I see no reason to stop."

Both Larry and Bowser Jr. responded appropriately and predictably with indignant yelling, immediately followed by Roy cackling at playing his baby brothers like a fiddle.

Luigi looked at Mario. "No wonder you two hit it off."

Mario cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean? When do I do stuff like that?"

Luigi raised his index finger, smirking. "There was the Power Tennis tournament, for starters."

"Not so loud!" Mario shushed. "I've been harassed over that!"

Luigi covered his mouth as his eyes widened. "Oh yeah, I forgot! Sorry." He cleared his throat. "There's our latest prank war."

Peach folded her arms. "Don't remind me. I don't know how far you two would have gone if Daisy and I hadn't stepped in and put a stop to it."

Toadette giggled, "Toad had a lot of fun telling me about that."

"That's another thing I didn't like from it." Peach shook her head. "When I heard you brought Toad into it, that's when I knew I had to put a stop to it. Though I was still planning on it after our hangout was ruined."

Mario sighed, "I'm just glad healing items brought our staches back fast." He ran two fingers through one side.

"Same bro," Luigi replied, mimicking the motion.

"Uhhh…" Roy started. "I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the two of you having prank wars."

"I can't believe people are harassing Mario over that foot thing. I thought it was hilarious!" Bowser Jr. laughed.

Larry snickered. "Right, because approval from us will definitely make people think it's a good thing.

He and Roy said in stereo, "We just love being mean!" and chuckled.

"I wonder where Toad is going." Luigi brought the conversation back to the earlier subject.

"He reacted to Larry's comment about fire," Peach concluded, "so perhaps he's running to buy some Fire Flowers, Glow Blocks, and Light Boxes."

"I sure hope he knows where to meet us," Mario wished. "The map was leading us to Pleasant Path." He looked back down at the Magical Map as the party pressed onward towards the appropriate entrance.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

A hefty exchange of coins later, Toad left Harry's Shop with an equally hefty sack of useful items hoisted above his head much like any Spud, Fuzz, or Squeak. This sack was indeed filled with Fire Flowers, Glow Blocks, and Light Boxes. More than the party might ever use.

"You never know what might happen," Toad assured himself. He dashed away with his haul to find his friends. "I hope they didn't stay put for my sake. But how will I find them? Oh, I wish I knew where they're at. I should've asked Mario where the map was pointing — OW!"

A small, glittering thing crashed down from the sky right into Toad, knocking him back and making him drop his bag of goodies. Toad pushed himself to his feet and looked at what ricocheted off him. Or rather, who, as he saw a familiar Star Kid, who looking rather worse for wear.

"Twink!" Toad exclaimed, running to him. "What happened to you?" He helped Twink off the ground.

"I…" Twink grunted, "I was just heading back to Star Haven… when the sky went dark just as I was nearing it. It was like a big sliding door slammed shut on me just as I was going through the doorway."

Toad looked up at the sky. "The Umbra…" he gulped.

The little star sobbed. "We're cut off from the honorable Star Spirits again! And now the world can't get their wishes granted anymore! Again!"

Toad held Twink still and looked him in the eye. "W-we need to do our best with what we have, Twink! C-can you lead me back to Mario? I know we can still help!"

Toad's words brought some sparkle back to Twink as the latter rose from the ground. "You're right, Toad. With me down here, I'm the only star who can still grant wishes. I'll do the best I can!" He floated off to the east. "Follow me, Toad! Mario is heading towards Pleasant Path. We can meet him there!"

Seeing Twink's renewed energy and courage renewed some of Toad's own. "Wishes are something else." He held his sack of items aloft once again and zoomed after the Star Kid. With all our wishes helping him, there's no way Twink can fail. And then we can't fail either!

Siph: J, was that another Nintendrawer reference?

Most unashamedly.

Siph: First in your oneshot, and now here. It's like you're trying to butter her up or something.

I mean, as far as I know, she's not even aware of it. So no, not really. I just like referencing it. She writes good comics. You all should check out her stuff on Deviantart. But don't tell her I sent you.

Siph: Or if you do tell her J sent you, tell her not to tell J you ratted him out to her.

*covers Siph's mouth* Or just don't tell her I sent you!