"The stars are beautiful, because of a flower that cannot be seen."
I replied, "Yes, that is so." And, without saying anything more, I looked across the ridges of sand that were stretched out before us in the moonlight.
"The desert is beautiful," the little prince added.
And that was true. I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams . . .
"What makes the desert beautiful," said the little prince, "is that somewhere it hides a well . . ."
I was astonished by a sudden understanding of that mysterious radiation of the sands. When I was a little boy I lived in an old house, and legend told us that a treasure was buried there. To be sure, no one had ever known how to find it; perhaps no one had ever even looked for it. But it cast an enchantment over that house. My home was hiding a secret in the depths of its heart . . .
"Yes," I said to the little prince. "The house, the stars, the desert-what gives them their beauty is something that is invisible!"
-The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
O~o~O
"Oh! The chill is coming early this year!" Princess Peach hugged her arms, turning to face North. "I suppose I should have prepared a little better for these conditions."
Mario raised his eyebrows, unbothered by the cold and gloomy weather. The breeze was a little cooler. But even snow couldn't affect him with his Firebrand. Though, it clearly affected the Princess. She shuffled a little closer to him, touching his shoulder, and Mario wished he were a little taller if only to be able to block the wind for her. "Do you want this?" he held up the yellow cape he carried around. It was a thin but comfortable material. He gave a sympathetic smile when she shivered harder.
They were still a few minutes away from the castle. Princess Peach looked between him and the long walk ahead. "You're too kind. Thank you." She eventually accepted with a bashful smile.
They'd just come back from the orchards. Watching and helping out a little with the harvest. The Princess had wanted to stay longer, but the coldfront began to move in. She breathed into her hands, bundled up in the yellow cape, and Mario felt a little bad for her; she'd clearly wanted to stay longer. She kept casting longing glances back to the trees.
"The crops looked healthy. At least we got some good vegetables." Mario offered, looking at the basket. All her pickings had been neatly arranged inside, sure to make a fine addition to the kitchens.
Princess Peach turned and smiled at him, squeezing his shoulder. "Oh, yes. The yield was quite impressive this year. The Abundance Initiative I proposed last session is finally coming to fruition, or so to speak. It was a big shift from what we'd done in previous years. So, I'm glad it appears to be working." she raised her head, eyeing the clouds up in the North that had gotten closer over the course of the afternoon. She let out a soft sigh. "Hmm. I hope that isn't a freeze. I suppose they'll need to be prepared to cover the crops just in case…"
Mario followed her gaze. Predicting the weather in the Mushroom Kingdom was significantly less exact than what he was used to from Earth. There were no weathermen tracking the climate with satellites and sensors. Instead, they all relied on the predictions of older Toads, and sometimes the divination abilities from one particular fortune teller. It was hard, after all, to make a science out of a land in which the weather may be the result of magical influences elsewhere. The Princess at times made accurate guesses based on what she'd seen before. But Mario couldn't help but notice the way her gloomy expression matched the impending cloud cover.
He hesitated, walking along quietly for a while. She seemed to slow down her pace as they got closer and closer to the castle. Her hand didn't leave his shoulder.
Clearly, something was on her mind. Maybe she didn't like the cold? The Mushroom Kingdom seemed to have an otherwise temperate climate. There were maybe one or two days that had gotten a little warm earlier in the year. At least the calendar was similar to the one he was used to, but the names were all different for the months and seasons. They were more based around the harvest calendar. This was his and Luigi's first actual harvest, so he had never experienced the Mushroom Kingdom's "winter."
The townspeople had described preparations. There were no air conditioning or heating units, so the Toads relied on clever architecture and engineering in order to keep their homes and businesses comfortable. They used a sort of temporary insulation, from what he and Luigi had observed. It sounded like everything was forced to slow down after the harvest season in order to preserve heat. But, he had heard a Toad couple talking about skating on the lake together when it finally froze over.
That sounded like fun. He and Luigi had figured out the Mushroom Kingdom had a festival very similar to their winter holidays on Earth. He had wanted to ask about it. But, watching Princess Peach's forlorn gaze at the cold front, Mario frowned.
He gripped the basket a little tighter and steeled himself with a breath. "Is…Is something wrong?" He found the nerve to ask her.
The way she turned and blinked at him, removing her hand from his shoulder, Mario almost wanted to take it back. It was too personal. Of course. He should have minded his business. Since when did he have the right to know what was on her mind anyway?
She stopped walking. Mario's heart pounded.
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to make it seem like anything is…wrong." Princess Peach wrung her hands, giving Mario only a shy glance. Then, she lowered her head and started walking again.
Mario frowned, and waited.
Sure enough, she let out a long sigh, and gestured up ahead. "During the winter months, it becomes less feasible for me to be out among my Kingdom. It gets too cold. And the castle is such a large building, it can be difficult to insulate. Keeping the doors closed becomes a priority. There is just a lot to keep in order. Most of the staff goes home for the festival after our public celebration. And there is just not a lot for me to do except wish I was outside." she gave a hollow laugh, trying to smile at Mario. Her voice became small. "It's silly, I know."
The cold front ahead suddenly seemed so much more bleak. Mario shook his head, staring up at her. "That's not silly at all." he wanted to reach out and touch her arm, to give her some kind of reassurance. But he didn't. "That sounds very lonely."
Princess Peach gave a short shrug. "Well, I shouldn't complain." They arrived at the moat, and started across the bridge. The guards at each post saluted as they passed. Mario waved, and Peach nodded to them without breaking conversation. "It gives me an opportunity to stay on top of my work. There is a lot that I have to read over and potentially revise. And there are no distractions, so I can get a lot done." As soon as they passed through the entryway, they turned to head for the kitchens. Mario matched her subdued pace.
He tilted his head. "You don't do anything for fun?"
The lost look on the Princess' face spoke volumes for her. He glanced around the grand hallways. The ballroom, the library, the conference hall, so many rooms, and none of them facilitated leisurely activities. All of it was designed for work. He'd even been past her bedroom before, in the East wing. It was just as serious a space as the command center and representative chambers. Records, important documents, curated art, elegant decor. When he thought about it, the only social thing she was able to do in the castle was host him and Luigi for tea on her balcony. That was what they had done before going out to the harvest; she'd invited him for tea and pastries. Everything else inside the castle was related to running the Kingdom.
He couldn't quite believe his own conclusion. "You don't have…" he forgot the word in English. "You don't have, ehm, pastimes? There is nothing you can do here to relax?" he tried again.
A terrible vision filled his head, of lonely winter after lonely winter spent in solitude. Of time spent doing nothing but work, toiling for the Mushroom Kingdom without reprieve. Staring out the windows while the townspeople skated on the lake and enjoyed the festivities. No wonder she was so disappointed at the thought of the cold weather coming early.
They arrived in the kitchens. The staff were still out, collecting the harvest. Princess Peach carefully avoided Mario's gaze while he set the basket among the supplies. "I'm afraid I don't understand." she murmured, reaching for a plate of pastries that had been set out from before.
He'd struck a nerve. The thought wrenched something inside him. His mind raced, trying to think. How could he make this better?
"Luigi and I have pastimes. He likes to fix old machines. I like building. There are lots of things that people enjoy doing to help relax." he hesitated, when Princess Peach fixed her full attention on him. Her attention made his throat go dry. "Do you…Do you want me to help you find a pastime?"
She gave a meek nod as she bit into the pastry. Mario broke into a startled smile.
Surely, a woman as talented and thoughtful as the Princess could find any number of ways to enjoy her time. He moved to help her sort out the rest of the produce, racking his brain for ideas about what she might like to do.
Later that evening, he burst through the door of his house. "Luigi!"
"Ahi!" Luigi jolted and almost dropped the two mugs of tea in his hands, and whipped around to glare. "Vacci piano!"
He placed the cups on the table with a sour look. Mario scratched the back of his head and turned to shut the door as gently as possible. "Scusa." he gave a sheepish grin.
The sun had just set. The curtains had already been drawn, and Luigi stood in his pajamas. He'd spent the day in their garage, tinkering with his latest project. Over the months, he'd gotten really good at guessing when Mario would be back from his various errands if they weren't together, and always had dinner and tea ready. His famous minestrone waited for them on the table.
Shaking his head, Luigi sighed and gestured for Mario to sit down. "How do you have so much energy this late?" he grumbled, but his smile gave away his amusement. "Well, go on. What's on your mind?"
Mario could hardly sit still. His leg bounced, and he couldn't decide how to rest his hands on the table. "You're the resident expert on mechanics around here." he began. Luigi raised his eyebrows.
"Tell me more," he teased, and Mario rolled his eyes.
He perched against his chair, leaning into the table. Luigi sat down across from him, sipping his tea. Mario pursed his lips. "How…How long do you think it would take to build an electrical grid?"
Luigi slowly set down his cup, blinking several times.
Mario held up his hands. "I know. I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out. The Mushroom Kingdom has no power, right? The weather is going to get colder from here." he gestured to their windows, their doors. "Our house is insulated. Not like theirs, but you installed AC and heating so we will be comfortable. The town doesn't have that. The castle doesn't have that." jabbed the table as he listed his various points.
With a slow nod to show he was following, Luigi eased down in his chair and rested his cheek in his palm.
Mario went on. "Everything slows down in the winter. If they had heating, everyone could go on with business as usual. A project like this would give us something to focus on and a way to give back to the Kingdom." he punctuated with a firm gesture towards the garage. "The Princess told me today that during the winter, they close the castle completely. She can barely come outside. They must seal every entrance in order to insulate. If they have power, they would not need to close it."
A new understanding dawned in Luigi's eyes. A slow smirk crossed his face, and Mario's eyes went wide.
"What? What's that face for?" he asked.
Luigi just grinned and shook his head. "Eat your food, Capo." he gestured to the minestrone, and stood just as he took a long sip of his tea.
Mario sputtered, but reached for his spoon. "Wait, Coniglio, you're just — "
"It's an ambitious project; it'll take weeks just to plan. I think I can find a source of energy. My Thunderhand will make it quicker. I've been working on a generator for a while now, too. The transmission is the harder part. But did you consider asking if the Mushroom Kingdom would even want something like this? You might have to propose legislation to the representatives in the castle." he rubbed his chin. "Or maybe we could start small. There is a town hall tomorrow, maybe we should go and discuss it with them."
He had hardly finished talking before Mario got up and yanked him into a tight hug. "You're the best." he grinned when Luigi pretended to reluctantly sigh and pat his back. "Town hall. Yes. We will have to teach all the Toads about electricity. They will invent the lightbulb."
Luigi shook his head, chuckling. "You're lucky I love you. Though, I won't lie; I have been wondering about bringing power to the Kingdom. Their plumbing system is crazy but effective. They're really smart when it comes to engineering for their needs. I think they could learn easily." he mused.
Finally going back to enjoy his delicious dinner, Mario took a bite and paused. The pipe system was novel to them, but the town was kept very clean and sanitary because of it. They still had quite a lot to learn from the Toads themselves. "At least we have something to do for the next few months," he joked. "Ah, also, I don't think the Princess knows what a pastime is."
"A pastime?" Luigi frowned. "I think they call it a hobby in English."
Mario waved his hands dismissively. "Yes, yes. Either way, she doesn't have one. I want to help her find one tomorrow." he sat up.
Nodding slowly, Luigi glanced back toward the kitchen, before looking back at Mario. "Oh. Okay."
He picked up Mario's dish as soon as he was finished with the minestrone. "Is that okay?" Mario asked, frowning. "If you wanted to do something else…"
Luigi shook his head. His eyes fixed briefly on the calendars he'd been trying to sketch up; one from Earth, and one that approximated the months of the Mushroom Kingdom. "No, really, it's no problem. I think it's very nice of you to help her find a hobby." he sent a sneaky grin over his shoulder.
Mario didn't quite understand why his face suddenly felt so warm.
The next morning, Mario enjoyed his morning coffee with Luigi, as well as a hearty breakfast, before he would march off to the castle. Luigi planned on discussing their ideas on introducing power to the Kingdom at the town hall, but he mentioned he would meet him at the castle later. They talked about idle things, tidbits and odd little happenings. Mario remembered thinking he would happily wake up to a thousand mornings just like it. Just spending some quiet time with Luigi on their porch, sipping coffee over soft conversation, before they would go and try to realize whatever grand plans they'd dreamed up.
Every morning spent in the Mushroom Kingdom was a privilege.
He wished he could express that to Princess Peach, but he didn't quite have the right words at the time.
"But I already read a lot." Princess Peach tilted her head, as she and Mario browsed her library. "Most of it is political. I do have fiction books, though they make me tired because I only get to read them just before going to bed."
Mario nodded, rubbing his chin. She had a point; reading might not be the ideal way to relax for her. Maybe she needed something a little more stimulating. Just as they turned down a new row of shelves, he spotted a book with a figure on the cover in a particular pose. "Yoga?" he suggested.
At her questioning look, Mario hopped up to snag the book off the shelf. The Toad version of Yoga was similar enough, even though they called it Moving Meditation. "See here? It is like exercise and relaxing at the same time." he flipped through a few pages to show her.
"Oh," she hummed, tracing some of the forms with a delicate finger.
Toadsworth walked in on them attempting the triangle pose.
He adjusted his bowtie, tapped his cane on the floor once, and then turned and left the room with a large huff.
"Do you think he wants to try?" Princess Peach asked quietly, and Mario struggled to hide his grin.
"Maybe he is afraid that he is not as flexible as you." Mario winced, standing back up and pretending to be stiff.
Princess Peach covered her mouth with her hand, but she couldn't hide her giggle. Mario felt a flush of heat in his chest. She followed his example and stood up, adjusting her dress. "Well, the gown certainly doesn't really make it easy. It is relaxing, as you mentioned. But I can't say that I really feel much passion for it." she clasped her hands together, giving him a guilty look. "I'm sorry. This is probably making things difficult."
Mario was quick to shake his head. "No, no. This is about finding what you like." He thought hard. Reading and writing were too close to her actual job for the moment. Yoga didn't quite suit her. Most of the hobbies that came to his head were more outdoorsy. He already knew what she enjoyed outside; he'd been with her on long walks, he'd watched her participate in local games. She was actually quite athletic. She also enjoyed gardening and getting her hands dirty at the harvest.
Getting her hands dirty. Mario tilted his head and turned to face the wall, where a great mural faced them. The sun from the window fell on the painted colors in interesting ways.
Princess Peach followed his gaze. "Art?" She guessed what he was thinking.
They took a brief break for some tea and pastries. Both results from the previous day's harvest. "You might like this blend; they just finished preparing the Fire Flower root earlier today. It's meant to be invigorating." She passed him his cup. "And you absolutely must try these. The filling is my favorite part."
Her bright eyes watched his every move. Mario bit into an absolutely delightful treat, and it must have shown in his face because the Princess broke into a smile like the sun coming through the clouds. He decided right away that the berry filling was his favorite part as well. Sweet and soft. Soul-nourishing. She let out a pleased sigh as she ate hers, resting a hand on her cheek. The Fire Flower tea had a slightly sweet and roasted quality, and the heat of it flushed through his chest. An interesting choice to pair with the berry pastry. "Oh," he blinked, feeling his Firebrand respond to the intense blend.
The Princess reached over to touch his forehead. His heart jumped. "You're very warm, I can feel it from here." she giggled.
She must have attributed the color in his face to his Firebrand, too.
Art is a very broad hobby. The many possibilities made Mario confident that they would find something that appealed to her. A trip to find a canvas and some paints later, Mario and the Princess tracked down the desired subject.
One of the Toads in the Royal Guard took his job to an extreme. No matter where he was posted, he would remain at attention with his back ramrod straight for the entire shift. He would stare straight ahead, and not acknowledge anyone apart from the Princess until the instant he was off-duty. Princess Peach indicated that she wanted the easel set right in front of him. Mario fought to keep it together and force his expression to remain as neutral as the guard's.
The Princess had never received a single art lesson. Her effort, over the course of a half hour, was admirable just the same; she appeared to be focused on how the hallway cut into the light coming from a window, casting a striking shadow across the guard. Mario watched how she focused. Mixing the colors without muddling them, mostly. Staring very intently at the guard. The flexion and control of her wrist, the gentle slope of her cheekbone. The deliberating pout on her lips. The way she shifted her weight, or tilted her head for a new angle.
What took shape on the canvas was an object that had the vague implication of a mushroom, with a very yellow side and a very blue side.
"It looks nothing like him." the Princess sighed, setting aside the paints and looking over her work.
Mario blinked, stunned by the way the light of the afternoon illuminated her face, before he started forward to look at the painting himself. "It looks good," he assured her, trying to pay more attention to the canvas than the downcast look on her face. "It's very cute. Art has no rules. You can create whatever you want. I like how you use orange on this side for his arm right here."
Glancing over the painting, Peach gave a small, dissatisfied hum. "I see. I do admit, it was fun to play with the colors like that. I think I will try it again sometime." she frowned. "But I like rules. I like exactness." She helped Mario put away the paints and take down the easel.
Hands dirty. Exact rules. Mario gingerly lifted the painting so they could set it out to dry just around the corner. There had to be something that she could do indoors that meant both getting involved and following rules. Measurements. Tools. Precision and skill. There had to be something that suited her, that could keep her spirits up during the lonely winter. Something she could be excited about, that appealed to her warm nature.
It came to him in an instant. He blinked, and stopped walking. How couldn't he have seen it before?
The Princess paused, glancing back at him. "Hmm? Is something the matter?" She frowned.
Mario tilted his head at her, more and more certain as he thought about it. "Baking. You would like baking." he told her.
The way her eyes lit up, he knew he was onto something.
(The Royal Guard, on a momentous occasion, abandoned his post the instant The Princess and her highest ranking officer were gone and prowled over to observe the painting that had been placed in the next room to dry. Amazingly, there were no breaches in security during this time. Instead, he simply returned to his post with a confused grin. The painting really didn't look like him at all.)
Luigi discovered Mario and the Princess eleven recipes and various batches of cookies, cinnamon rolls, turnovers, and biscuits later, in the castle kitchens. He strolled in, wide eyes roving over the cookbooks, measuring tools, and pans, before he finally found them. "What's going on here?" he hesitated to ask.
Princess Peach whipped around to face him, her face alight with a gleeful grin and speckled with flour. "Luigi!" she exclaimed. "Please, try some!"
The kitchen was warm with the heat of the ovens and the Princess' delighted spirit. The room smelled of cinnamon and sugar. Mario quickly reached over to pass the Princess the mitts before she went to retrieve the latest batch. "They're good," he promised Luigi, sneaking another cookie in for himself. He glanced up, and realized with some alarm that it had gotten dark outside. "Oh. It's late. Were you waiting for me?"
Shaking his head, Luigi just rolled his eyes. "I take it you don't remember what today is." He raised his eyebrows.
Mario squinted. A new batch of muffins appeared on the counter, and the Princess took off the mitts. "What is today?" she asked, smoothing down her apron.
Looking across their semi-organized chaos of ingredients and treats, Mario frowned. He didn't think it was a holiday. The anniversary of their mother's death had already passed, according to the calendar that Luigi kept up with. He didn't think the Mushroom Kingdom had anything special going on. Maybe he had forgotten? He looked back up at Luigi with a frown.
Luigi shook his head with a slight smile. "You really don't remember? Again?"
Some of the Toad staff shuffled in and out, offering brief bows as they passed the Princess and the brothers. Many of them cast confused glances across all the pastries. Mario scratched the back of his head, only remembering at the last minute that he had flour all over his gloves.
A special day later in the year? Mario blinked. It hit him. He looked off into the distance, noticing the Princess' attentive look. "It's, ehm. It's my — my birthday?"
The room went quiet. Luigi grinned.
Princess Peach covered her mouth with her hands, horrified. "Oh, no! It's your birthday?" she whirled around and leaned down to grasp Mario's hands, eyes wide. "This just won't do! We absolutely must celebrate your birthday; perhaps I can arrange for a party to be thrown, or organize a feast. The harvest is nearly done. What would you like? I can inform my staff and we can get started on it right away!"
"Ah." Mario swallowed hard and shook his head, heat rising in his face. He glanced down to their hands for a moment. "N — no, no, please, Princess. I don't want anything like that." he hurried to say.
He wasn't sure he liked Luigi's crafty look. But he definitely didn't like the panic and dismay in the Princess's face, either. "Oh, but we must do something! Please, you're such a special person to the Kingdom, and to me." she implored.
Special. She called him special. He blinked several times. Butterflies took flight in his stomach. He couldn't think about anything else other than the gentle way she squeezed his hands.
Meanwhile, Luigi casually looked over one of the cookbooks they had set aside earlier, with a smug look. "Mario likes cake," he called out, resting an elbow on the counter.
"Cake! Of course!" Princess Peach seized Mario with a laugh, a brief hug, before she went over to see the recipe Luigi had found.
It had been years since they had really celebrated his birthday. Mario didn't remember when he had started to forget the date; Luigi was always the one to remind him, but it was never a very distinct or memorable day out of the week anyway. Luigi would make him his favorite dinner. That was probably what he had wanted to do before he realized Mario was still helping the Princess.
And now, there appeared to be new plans.
Luigi and Princess Peach wouldn't allow him to help make the cake. He offered to mix the batter, or try to make the frosting, but they wouldn't have it. Even some of the staff jumped in to help. The whole kitchen came to life with the cake-making occasion.
It was just like how Luigi wouldn't allow him to help with dinner or the chores on his birthday back home. Back in Brooklyn. The memories made Mario's throat tight. Now, so many others caught on to the same game. Princess Peach took great care to measure each ingredient as exactly as the recipe called for. The Toads followed her instructions, and would laugh and tease Mario if he tried to step in and volunteer. Luigi spurned it all on, helping the Princess fetch what she asked for, and pretending to hold each little task over Mario's head.
Princess Peach had clearly found her calling. Mario watched with a warm smile as she put all her effort into mixing the great big bowl of batter by hand. Every little teaspoon, every cup, she spotted it all. Clearly, a culinary genius slept inside of her. Luigi gave her advice on the side, but he stood back and let her do it because it was clear in her face that she wanted to do it all herself. That focused little pout. Her cheeks dusted with flour, strands of hair out of placement. Her clever eyes taking in every single step.
She looked like she belonged. Even a winter storm couldn't dampen her spirit.
During the time it took to bake, the Toad staff attempted to teach Mario and Luigi their traditional birthday song. It was strikingly similar to the one that they already knew, just like many things about the Mushroom Kingdom. But the lyrics and tune ended slightly differently. They tried to teach the Toads some words in Italian. Listening to them try to pronounce "compleanno," and "torta," melted their hearts.
When the cake was ready, the Princess took it upon herself to decorate it.
"Happy birthday, Mario!" She presented her work before them. It was a simple cake, as it was only her first, and she'd used the frosting and fruits in a clever way to look like little red flowers. A beginner's recipe. But he'd watched it come to life with his own eyes, by her own hands. It was perfect.
He told her as much when he got the first bite. A tender and creamy cake. They all stood around in the kitchens, chatting and laughing together over their slices.
"I'm sorry that we spent all day trying to find a hobby for me on your birthday." the Princess told him, as Luigi was taken away by the staff to teach him children's games. She had a guilty look.
Mario shook his head, savoring his last piece. "I had a lot of fun. And it looks like you found a hobby, after all."
They looked around the kitchens, the ingredients and bowls scattered over the counters. The oven cooling, the cake and the rest of the treats laid out for others to take. "I suppose you're right." Princess Peach giggled. "Well, I must offer you my most sincere thanks. I think that I may continue trying to paint too; it was fun even if it didn't come quite so easily to me as this. A cake is only a small gift, though. I wish there were more we could do to celebrate your birthday."
He wasn't sure how to tell her that this was the best birthday he'd had in years. That he would have picked exploring different hobbies with her over any celebration, that her going to the effort of learning how to bake a cake just for him made him feel more special than any party ever could.
The Princess squeezed his arm when they eventually had to say goodnight. He noticed, over his shoulder as they walked out toward the quiet town, that she went to speak with the patissier.
When he and Luigi got home that night, a nice dinner waited for them. It had gotten cool since they were gone for so long, but Mario just used his Firebrand to heat it up again. He made sure to give Luigi a long hug. "Sorry for taking so long and ruining your surprise." he mumbled.
Luigi shook his head, chuckling. "Don't you worry about that, I got a good opportunity to surprise you anyway. And by the way, I think the Mushroom Kingdom will be open to getting power. I talked to the representatives today. We can start working on the grid as soon as you like." He patted Mario's back. "Happy birthday, Capo."
Mario could hardly get to sleep that night. Staring at the ceiling with plans running wild in his head. Remembering the warmth of her touch.
The grid took a couple of years to complete. The Mushroom Kingdom did slow down that winter, but the Princess had new ways of spending her time and could look forward to visits from the brothers instead of spending her time alone and working nonstop. Several new sweets always waited for them. They would update her on the progress of the grid, as she insisted they give power to her citizens before the castle. Together with Toad Town's utility workers, they safely built the grid alongside the complex pipe network. Heating became very popular, and soon many of the winter festivities took place outdoors.
Their birthdays became a big deal. The Princess arranged a lovely party for Luigi in the grand gardens of the castle when his came around. It was the first time since they had been children that either of them had gotten a party. The brothers each brought the Princess a thoughtful gift when it was time for hers, and she was just as gracious as when she received what had to be at least two thousand other gifts from her subjects.
It became an inside joke after, the next time his birthday rolled around, one Toad blurted out "it's a Mario Party!" From then on, any social event that wasn't tied to politics was referred to as such. Luigi's birthday was a Mario Party. The Spring festival was a Mario Party. It became a little alarming when citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom would refer to their own get-togethers as a Mario Party, too.
After rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser's many kidnappings, Mario began to receive cakes as a reward. He had tried to insist he desired no reward at all. But it was very hard to tell her something like that when she came to him with flour and frosting all over her hands, decorated with the sweetest smile. She got better and better at baking and decorating every time. Each cake tasted perfect to him, regardless. Whatever cake she made instantly became his favorite.
She kept painting, too. She became very skilled at landscapes. In fact, she got so good at painting that they had a mishap where, upon attempting to use her magic to repel Bowser's attack one time, each of her paintings literally became portals to the locations she had painted. An impressive, if unfortunate side effect of her immensely powerful abilities. Bowser took advantage of the situation and sealed the Princess in her own stained glass window. Mario was able to fight off Bowser and free her after diving into literally every painting she'd ever made. She stayed away from painting for a while after that.
She also started giving him a kiss on the cheek or on the nose after every rescue. Every acute wound he might have gotten would heal in a magical instant, but even she couldn't do anything to slow down his beating heart.
The year they finally finished the electrical grid, officially bringing power to the entire Kingdom, Mario hoped that the staff would no longer have to close the castle, and that the Princess would be free to experience the holidays at her leisure.
He still had yet to witness it.
O~o~O
"Are there any more races?" Luma hopped up to Mario in his Star Bunny form, a hopeful zeal in his little dance. His entire being exuded a luster that should have been impossible in the tropical climate. He didn't leave any footprints in the sand. "Are there?"
Mario glanced over to Guppy lounging over at the next island. The usually smug whale carefully avoided his gaze, and nudged himself back in the water to swim away. "Hm." he raised his eyebrows. Shielding his eyes from the nearby sun with his hand, he glanced over at the penguins in swimming caps. They all gave friendly nods and waves with their flippers, but didn't seem interested in getting back in the water. "I don't think so."
The Captain of the Toad Brigade came sauntering over just as Luma gave a disappointed croon. "Mario! We detected signs of an anomaly in this galaxy!" he gestured up, where the Starshroom was coming out of orbit to land. He could see a couple of the Brigadiers waving at him through the little window.
"Anomaly?" Mario lifted his hat just enough for Luma to dive under, returning to his Star form.
The tide came in a little stronger, lapping at the back of the Captain's heels, and he jolted toward Mario with a startled yelp. "Whoah! Yeah, we can't figure out what it is, it's a signal coming from over there." he pointed back to a smaller island. The one Mario had initially landed on. "Since we already recovered a few Power Stars, the Brigade is already mobilizing to head back to the Observatory. We weren't sure if it was important, but Lieutenant Sleepyhead over there thought you should check it out." he pointed to where one of the Brigadiers napped in a patch of flowers.
Mario tried not to grin when the Captain crossed his arms and huffed at the other Toad. He'd noticed that particular Toad napped a lot. In fact, he wasn't sure if he'd even gotten the chance to speak to him because of how often he slept. "Thank you, Captain. Me and Luma will look." he promised.
Showing up a selfish whale, and beating an entire class of penguins in underwater races made for a surprisingly low stress trip. He also had found the pieces of a split Power Star scattered across the strange galaxy. He looked across the waters as he hopped across to the next island. He wondered what exactly about space had created these galaxies like Seaslide that took the form of suspended streams of water. Gravity acted in strange ways the further he got from large planets.
"The Brigade is leaving," Luma chimed up, and Mario looked back over his shoulder just as the Captain and the sleepy Toad boarded the Starshroom. He sent them off with a salute before he turned back to hop in the water and swim the rest of the way to the island.
His heart worked a little too hard from how long he spent in the water already, but the temperature was nice so Mario dove a little deeper. Luma conveniently kept his hat on his head. When he spun, a burst of speed propelled him forward and the waters sparkled with the luminescent star power. Maneuvering in the water had never been his favorite. But with Luma's help, it was actually kind of fun.
A sudden chill came over him. He blinked. The sensation reminded him of being blasted off the mountain and into the icy waters on Freezeflame galaxy. He lifted his head and started reaching up to swim back to the surface.
The lack of oxygen must be getting to him. He saw a glimpse of a shape before him that resembled himself. A glittering, watery outline. He stopped.
Luma's voice came uninterrupted through the water, a curious tingling. So he could see it too.
The shape, the watery mirror, regarded him with an eerie stillness. Mario felt a sense of dread crowd his chest, the lack of air beginning to burn. He scrambled to straighten himself and spun to shoot himself toward the surface.
He burst from the water with a gasp. "What is that? Is that the anomaly?" Mario ran a few steps away from the shore, dripping and cold despite being in the light of the hot sun.
He scanned the surface of the water for a moment, looking for any sign of that thing, before Luma emerged from his hat with an alarmed peal. "Mario!"
Mario whipped around. There. It stood in the dead center of the island, a little clearer than it had been in the water. It seemed to ripple in place, an illusory space that he could hardly make out with his eyes. Almost blue, almost starry. Almost there, but not fully. Kind of like dark matter. Mario took a step back.
He'd seen it before, he realized. He was almost certain. That thing, he'd come across it more than once. But he couldn't quite remember where or when.
There was a curling of unease in his gut. It was familiar, yet entirely foreign. Luma made a low sound like a whimper. Whatever he could sense from the entity, it couldn't be good either.
The being shifted. A cold rush shot through his body, dropping low in his stomach. His heart pounded. Mario reached up to clutch at his chest, breathless. Distress coursed through his veins. Like the world had dropped out from under him. The pressure that came down on him, down on his head, was like all the stars in the universe rested on his back.
But most of all, there was this desperate, miserable indignation.
It wasn't fair.
He didn't know what it was, but it wasn't fair.
Luma's coruscating voice brought him out of his stupor. "Let's go back. Please." his tone sounded just as frightened. Mario didn't hesitate. He turned to run for the nearest launch star.
O~o~O
Rosalina was occupied with the Brigade by the time Mario returned. But the Messenger Toad indicated that Luigi had made some lunch. In a daze, Mario wandered over toward the Kitchen. Hands cold. Heart thrumming.
Luma didn't even come out of his hat. He felt the Star child shift around in his hair, and Mario reached up to rest his hand across him. Luma barely responded.
Something was wrong. He needed to tell Rosalina about it. Mario stopped walking, wavering, only to turn and remember that she was busy. He squinted. He needed to tell her about what they had seen. What had they seen? He slowly turned back to start toward the Kitchen again. His legs were heavy. Muscles stiff.
Cold. His stomach felt hollow with hunger, but also cold. He swallowed hard.
"Capo!" Luigi greeted him as he finally managed to drag himself up the steps and inside the dome. "How are you? I heard you found a few Power Stars today."
A rich smell not unlike Luigi's famous risotto filled his lungs, and Mario had to swallow down a sudden bout of nausea. He cleared his throat in an effort to soothe the sensation, his expression twisting up. He thought he'd gotten over this. "Ehm. Yeah." he agreed, and Luigi whipped around at the sound of his strained voice.
The spatula clattered on the counter. "Ahi," Luigi was on him in an instant, grasping his arms and leading him to the nearest chair. "Respira, Capo. Count with me, yes? Uno, due, tre, quattro…" he exaggerated his breathing to guide Mario in the motion, easing him down.
Mario nodded, and tried to follow along. Breathe in for four seconds, hold it. Breathe out for four seconds, and hold.
The firm hand on his shoulder and the careful watch of his brother slowly helped the nausea abate. Mario closed his eyes. There was a time where he had to guide Luigi through this exercise, not the other way around. "Su, su…" Luigi gently patted his back. Bit by bit, Mario was able to control the cold pit in his belly. A bit of his internal fire returned.
He took one final deep breath and squeezed Luigi's arm. "Thank you," he said, once he trusted himself not to be sick.
Luigi gave a small smile. "You okay?" He kept his voice level.
Mario rested his elbows on the table just as Luma stirred under his hat. "Yes, I'm okay." he said, and Luigi's hand rubbed his back. He continued to breathe consciously, shutting his eyes for a moment to open his other senses to the rest of the room. The water boiling in the kettle on the stove. The steaming pan with the achingly familiar scent of a homemade dinner. The fireplace crackling across the room.
What was it that had gotten him so worked up? Mario found with some alarm that he couldn't quite remember. It receded from his mind like the low tide. But his internal fire had lost its spark again, and Luma was sluggish when he came out, circling them like a deflated balloon. What had he just been doing? He glanced at Luma.
Seaslide galaxy. There had been a whale, and some penguins…Mario took in a deep sigh and rested his forehead in his hands. He'd found three more Power Stars. Three steps closer to the center of the universe. How many were left? He didn't know; he'd been avoiding the countdown. He wanted to know, but somehow the idea of counting down every star caused his stomach to drop just like before. He took in another deep breath to try and settle down before the nausea came back.
"Here you go, little guy." Luigi produced a starbit for Luma, and the baby star instantly came to life with a shimmering croon.
He stood and left Mario with a squeeze of his shoulder. Mario closed his eyes.
They were getting closer. Every day, or as close to a day as Mario could tell out in the universe. He let out a soft breath. Closer and closer to the Princess. It must be getting close to harvest season back home. He wondered how the citizens fared; did they go about business as usual? Or were anxiously awaiting the return of their Princess? Did they think she was gone forever? Did they mourn? There was a gaping hole in the earth where Bowser had torn out the castle and threw them all out into space. How did the people live with that?
Mario thought, with an indignant sigh, of all the broken pipes, the intricate plumbing system ruined. The wastewater system, the landscaping and irrigation all shredded. He opened his eyes with a start. They had just completed the electrical grid earlier that year. This should have been the first winter that the castle would not need to close.
The Princess had been so excited about it. Though she had made the best of winters before, painting and baking and inviting the brothers to visit, it couldn't compare to the freedom of wandering her own kingdom.
He swallowed hard. He decided right then that, if they ever got out of this, then he would ask the Princess to skate with him on the lake as soon as it froze over. The day it happened. The night before it froze. He didn't care. He would ask.
His heart pounded. He thought of all the winters she'd spent staring out her window. He thought of her sitting alone in the universe, looking out at the stars and waiting for him. A surge of heat came up through his chest, his internal fire sparking again. He had to get her out of this. He would get her out of this; he would recover the rest of the Power Stars and get enough power to the Observatory to reach her. He would foil Bowser's plans, as he always did, and he would bring her home. Stars and galaxies be damned. The universe would not stand in his way.
A plate of risotto slid in front of him. Mario blinked.
Luigi gave a small, knowing smile. "Eat as much as you can, Capo. Then you can go back to work."
The steaming food smelled so familiar. Mario's mouth watered, and for once his stomach didn't protest. He grasped the fork and went to take a bite.
The ingredients were foreign, borrowed from other planets. And yet, there was just something so homely about a hot meal, something so wonderfully familiar about his brother's cooking in the warm atmosphere of a kitchen. A routine he'd known all his life. He remembered laughter, family, holidays, dark winters. He remembered their kitchen back at the Mushroom Kingdom, and his heart ached for home.
Just as Luma had settled beside him with a chirp, Luigi went to sit across from him and looked up at Mario with a jolt. "Capo? What's wrong?" he asked.
Mario's eyes shone under the soft orange lights. He blinked it away. "Nothing." he murmured with a smile, digging into the risotto. "It's just—it's just really good. Thank you."
O~o~O
He had to come up for air.
Mario emerged from the cool water with a gasp, and only had a moment before he felt the water pressure change below. They were coming. He reached to tread the water as fast as he could.
The gravity of the odd planet made the current erratic. Luma warned him with a sharp trill and Mario grit his teeth, breathing hard. His weary muscles began to ache from the constant swimming, but he couldn't stop. He didn't have a choice. There was no land.
The Bonefins would explode if they got to the surface before they got to him. But he couldn't sense the explosion behind him because of the unpredictable current. He could vaguely hear beeping, but the water and wind whipping past his ears made it hard to pinpoint. So he just had to hope that he timed it right before he heaved a deep breath and dove back down under the water.
His chest already burned. The dark made it difficult to tell how far down the seabed was. Still, he pushed on, hauling deeper.
A sudden chill in the water rushed through him. Shadows formed and grew where he could finally see the bottom. The seabed below became illuminated, brighter and brighter. Dread shot through Mario's spine, and he turned.
Two massive glowing eyes fixed on him. A shadow of an ichthyic skeleton spanning the greater part of the sea planet. Mario froze.
An absolute leviathan bore down on him, its heavy presence practically audible through the pressure of the water. Mario helpfully observed that each of its fangs was bigger than he was as its jaw creaked open and began snapping at him.
He went for a deeper dive to evade Kingfin. The beast moved through the water like it was nothing, and Mario anticipated the rush of cold water from above as he just managed to miss being swept into the great maw. His heart pounded. He could feel the pressure of his blood, the need to breathe burning in his chest.
There! A glimmer of red on the seabed. Mario forced himself deeper and deeper until he came upon the red shell.
Kingfin was already coming back around the planet, eager to turn him into mincemeat. Mario knew he wouldn't make it to the shell; he was moving as fast as he could. Eyes like floodlights distorted the shadows around him. Bracing himself, he let out a small puff of air before he spun.
Luma's power propelled him through the water even better than he anticipated. His being possessed a sudden gravity that pulled the shell, swirling, right to him. The pressure of Kingfin's presence practically vibrated the entire planet. The lights blinded him. He latched on to the shell and immediately turned to throw it.
The skeleton burst in a flurry of light, and the Power Star revealed itself. Mario only had just enough air to swim and reach out for it.
O~o~O
He had to be almost done.
He'd been avoiding the countdown Rosalina had provided for him, staying away from the central map. But something was telling him that he was nearly there.
Mario wiped at his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt before reaffirming his grip on the grated floor and reaching forward with his wrench. A few more turns of the bolt, a brief scare where his boot lost its traction on the grate, and finally, a strike from the heel of his palm, and the Engine Room sputtered to life once again. Luma almost dropped the screwdriver he was holding for Mario out of his excitement.
"Oh, thank you!" The Gearmo rolled erratically around him as Mario climbed back up from the underside of the floor to gather the tools. "That was incredible! You are a true natural around machinery. Now that the engine is operational, we can access the nearby galaxies again."
Resting his hands on his knees, Mario noticed that his overalls were streaked with grease. "No problem," he breathed out, handing the wrench back to the robot.
Polari gave an impressed hum. He had observed the entire operation. "Good timing; it appears that we have spotted another enemy base." he directed Mario to the projected map that showed him the galaxies that he'd already gathered Power Stars from, and the new one orbiting the system. Mario's gaze immediately fixed on it.
Luma crooned, as if sensing Mario's instinct to drop everything and blast off to the Lava Reactor. It must have been Bowser Jr's turn to try and impede him.
But he would have his chance. He could sense his body's fatigue, especially after the fight with Kingfin. His arms and back strung with how sore they were, and even crawling around the Engine Room left him breathless; he needed a chance to recover. Luigi and Rosalina both had reminded him time and time again that he would be no good to his Special One, to Princess Peach, if he wasn't at his full strength.
He took a deep breath, and stood back. "That is good. I will let you know when I'm ready to launch."
As he came out of the Engine Room, Luma spun around him in delighted circles, giggling the whole way down to the main floor. Mario found himself chuckling and pretending to chase the tiny star. They looped round and round the upper level rings, before warping down to the bookshelves.
"Hey!" They had just gotten into the thick of an improvised game of tag that took them across the top of the Bedroom when a voice called out. Mario and Luma both froze and turned.
Another Luma floated before them both. Mario vaguely recognized the vibrant red star; he'd seen the little one hiding around the Observatory from him.
"I've got a secret," the coy little Luma informed them both. "But I'm not telling."
Mario wasn't sure how a small being shaped like a star could seem so mischievous. He and Luma shared a glance. "Oh," he said. "Okay."
With a little spin, the red Luma gave a shimmering laugh. "It's a very special secret. But you have to earn it." he insisted, looking up toward the roof of the Observatory as if to feign disinterest.
Seeing through his tactics, Mario decided with a smile to indulge the little red Luma. "How?" he asked.
Immediately, the red Luma glimmered and sparkled with delight, and Mario fought to restrain his knowing grin. "You must bring back another Grand Star!" The bold declaration caught the attention of a small group of Lumas hovering past. "Only then can I share the true power—I mean secret! Only then can I share the secret."
Mario nodded. "I can do that," he promised.
He knew that he would. Before, he might have been shaken by the prospect, but now, with a nice bath and a dinner with his brother and their friends to look forward to, it didn't seem so frightening. He waved and headed off for the Fountain, and Luma took his spot back under his hat.
Somewhere out there, in the great wide universe, Princess Peach waited for him to rescue her. Maybe she didn't know that she was waiting, or that he was even coming. Or maybe she knew, but she wasn't sure if he would make it. But he was coming. And he would make it to her. Maybe she looked upon the very same stars and galaxies that were at their vantage point now; the Observatory had come so very far across space already.
Mario thought about this as he scrubbed himself off in the bath, his internal fire heating the water and soothing his aches and pains. He still hadn't been able to get very much sleep, but he was able to eat better than he had been. And was making better decisions about when to take care of his body. Yes, Princess Peach was waiting for him, but he still had an obligation to himself. His brother and the Toad Brigade were all safe aboard the Observatory. Rosalina and her Lumas possessed a power he did not understand, and did not require anything but his assistance. All he had to do in order to fulfill his purpose was worry about his own safety and eventually bring Bowser back under control on their own world.
That was how he could best serve them all. But it wasn't all about service, exactly, either.
When he was rested and nourished, he had the energy to explore and enjoy the wonders he came across. He had started a small collection of flowers that he kept in the Terrace just for the Princess. They never drooped or withered, and Mario spent a lot of time just sitting and arranging the flowers as he found them into striking order. Luma helped in a surprisingly subdued manner. As if gathering these small gifts for his Special One required profound resolution. A sacred task.
He took Luigi back to Gusty Garden galaxy to show him the incredible phenomenon of Floaty Fluffs, though he liked to call them space dandelions. They also went together to a handful of other galaxies to explore certain areas in more detail. It was on Buoy Base galaxy and Dusty Dune galaxy that Luigi spotted two more green stars with his more thorough searches. Two more cosmic jewels. The stars became bright green Lumas, and they went off to return to their friend who Luigi found initially. Reunited like siblings. Mario smiled and patted Luigi's back.
Mario also spent time with each of the Toads doing their various activities, including studying, tinkering, and napping. They usually spent their time at the grassy area close to the Terrace and the garage. "Check this out, Mario!" Captain Toad called for him, only to turn on his headlamp right in front of Mario's face.
"Oh!" Blinded, Mario stumbled back, covering his eyes.
Captain Toad let out a sharp cry, and the other Toads burst into laughter. Even some Lumas who had been floating past let out quiet giggles. Once Mario was able to blink all of the stars out of his eyes, he rubbed his face and looked at the Captain.
The poor Toad looked horrified. His comrades behind him, except for the one who was asleep on a tiny flowery hill, all tried to cover their mouths with frantic hands to hide their mirth.
Putting his hands on his hips, Mario chuckled. "Careful where you point that thing," he said, reaching forward to carefully aim the headlight down and away from anyone's face. "What did you want to show me?"
"Sorry, Mario." Captain Toad mumbled bashfully, and turned to bring him to the Brigade's latest discovery.
Besides spending time on the Observatory with his friends, Mario also gathered Starbits constantly on his travels to feed every hungry Luma he came across, and always made sure to bring some back to Rosalina so they could enjoy some together at the edge of the Observatory, gazing out into space in a serene silence.
He could finally feel a hint of that awe and wonder that the Toads all felt, following him around on his adventures. That Luma pressed him to indulge. Despite being so far from home, from everything he understood before.
Dinner was becoming a wonder in and of itself. Luigi would go out periodically to forage for some foreign plants and proteins, and worked magic in the kitchen to create something entirely new. And always entirely delicious. He managed to concoct something close to bread rolls out of a strangely colored wheat, paired with a bright blue mushroom stew.
After doubling back on a few galaxies to check for Power Stars missed, Mario got to enjoy this dinner, and afterward went strolling out along the lead platform with Rosalina. They each had a starbit for dessert. Mario was able to enjoy his without Luma trying to steal it, as he'd gotten caught up playing with the trio of green Lumas.
"There was a planet made entirely of shrinking platforms from the Fountain." Mario recalled, smiling wryly as he remembered the panicked sprint to save the Power Star. "And I learned it is possible to skate across lava with the power of the Ice Flower. The view was incredible."
The heat had felt good, and he relished it upon his return to Freezeflame galaxy. There had been something pressing there. Something disturbing that he'd wanted to discuss with Rosalina. But as soon he started talking, he found that he couldn't remember what he had seen there. He recalled being alarmed as he glided over the lava with the ice power. But he couldn't remember why, really. It was something about a shape he'd seen before. A chase of some kind. Luma had become frightened again, too. He wondered if the Dark Matter plant had caused some sort of imbalance in the universe that distressed the star child. By the time he got back, he'd decided the whole matter was too silly to mention to anyone.
Rosalina took a thoughtful bite out of her starbit, and they both gazed out across space from their seat at the furthest edge of the Observatory. So many galaxies, so much more of the cosmos out there that he would never witness because the Observatory only sought out viable locations for Power Stars. He wasn't sure if he was grateful for it, or saddened.
"You are remarkably accepting of these new experiences." Rosalina spoke, gazing down at him with her penetrating gaze. "Your will is unmatched. You have left your mark among the stars."
Mario blinked, and looked back out over the edge. The comets and planets all sailed past. "I didn't, ehm, I didn't mean to do that." he kicked out a little, thumping the back of his boots against the platform.
With a soft smile, Rosalina rested her hand on his shoulder. He felt the cool glow of starlight pass through him again. "It is often those who set out to leave a mark who end up corrupting their own intent and losing themselves along the way. You have had your heart set on a pure course from the start, and you refuse to stray from it. It seems to me that you have found more of yourself than you have left behind."
His Firebrand, his heart blazed to life from her comment. Yes, out there in the deepest reaches of space, he'd discovered that he could keep going. He'd discovered the love he had shielded deep inside, a blistering truth not unlike the molten core of a planet, for his Special One. For the Princess. He blushed. "Oh."
Rosalina's chuckle had a sort of echo, the same as Luma's voice. "I do not know the extent of the danger ahead. But I have complete faith in you. I am grateful for all you have done for us here." she glanced back to the beacon, its power bright and blue.
They sat there for a long time in silence after that. The views and soft colors of solar systems and nebulas passed through his field of vision, and Mario could not help but feel at least a little privileged that his eyes may be the only human eyes to witness such sights. The places he'd been, all the strange flowers and waters and lands he'd come across. He got to be the first and possibly only of his kind to take such steps.
He also had a wise confidant in Rosalina beside him, an entire Brigade of admirers who wanted to help, and a brother who'd been by his side through it all. As much of a disaster it all was, Mario was grateful for the experiences and the little community they had created aboard the Observatory. With them, he could keep his eyes forward, fixed on the center of the universe.
Luma had told him that she was out there. That she was waiting on him. And Mario could finally see why Luma faced the universe with such joy.
The stars were beautiful, because somewhere they hid a Princess.
When he slept later, he had the strangest dream of a galaxy that looked like a children's playroom. He had to fight off toy robots and traverse wooden train tracks, plastic utensils, and color blocks to reach the end. There was even a little train hiding inside a block. No matter how far he traveled, he could not see the universe outside of the playroom. He had to destroy a massive robot Bowser, and though the robot itself didn't resemble the Koopa at all, Mario intrinsically knew it was him. He spotted a series of platforms that resembled a little jumping man that struck him as familiar in an uncomfortable way. At the end, there was a dizzying sequence of lit screens like a tunnel that he had to pass through. Luigi laughed when he tried to explain it.
And, with his strength replenished, his internal fire roaring inside of him, Mario was ready to take on the Lava Reactor. Another Grand Star waited for him. He remembered the red Luma who promised to share a secret if he brought it back.
The others sent him off with smiles and happy promises of more good times waiting for him when he returned.
The battle was almost too easy.
"If I give up anymore Grand Stars, my dad's gonna get mad !" Bowser Jr. leered, though Mario could detect an edge to his exaggerated laughter. The forced pressure in his beady eyes. The way his voice cracked. "So this calls for my ultimate weapon! Give 'em some heat, King Kaliente!"
A giant Rocto erupted from the pool of lava before him just as Jr. steered his ship away, splashing molten rock all over the green platforms, and straightened the crown atop his head with two of his massive tentacles. His glowing eyes narrowed on Mario.
"Oh!" Luma let out a chirp from beneath his hat. "I know him!"
Mario nodded, and tried not to smile at the childlike glee just from recognizing an enemy. Though, he could feel it, too. The familiarity sparked inside of him, like a game he already knew how to play. "Yes. We know how to beat him." The heat of the lava planet couldn't compare to the heat that lit up inside him, ready for battle.
With a determined nod, Luma orbited him once before zooming under his hat.
The King was not so pleased to see him. He immediately tensed for an attack. Magma sloshed up along the edges of the metal platforms surrounding his lair. Mario had to hop quickly, watching for the charged attack. Three flaming stones flew straight for him.
"Woo!" Luma cheered as he ducked. "Look! Here comes the coconut!"
Strangely, between King Kaliente's fiery attacks, he would launch a coconut. Mario didn't even bother to wonder how King Kaliente came to have coconuts. Or how they possibly stayed perfectly green and intact while in a lava-dwelling Rocto's possession. Or, more importantly, why King Kaliente hadn't learned from their first battle back on Good Egg galaxy. Mario leapt up, eyes fixed straight on the Rocto, and spun hard.
The coconut flew right back at his face. The magnificent crown on his head tumbled down into the molten planet.
Enraged, King Kaliente smashed the platforms around him. The lava splattered high. Mario jumped up to avoid being burned, only for several bright blue Lava Bubbles to follow.
Laughter echoed from above in the dark skies. Mario saw Jr. aboard his airship just as meteors began to rain down.
His internal fire only burned brighter as the stakes rose. Mario took off on a sprint around the metal platforms, barely landing long enough for them to start sinking. The Lava Bubbles chased him, hopping along, though they couldn't match his speed. The meteors streaked down all around him. King Kaliente launched more fiery rocks in his direction. Through the chaos, Mario found a rhythm.
King Kaliente launched another coconut. Mario leapt up to spin it back at him, but the Rocto blocked the blow.
Luma giggled, bright and excited. Mario stepped over a Lava Bubble and sent the coconut flying back at King Kaliente again. A massive tentacle slapped it back out of the way. He tracked it, watching its trajectory. It was too far. He had to sprint.
His boots struck the metal with a dull ring. Bursting through a meteor just as it smashed on a platform, Mario struck the ground with his lead foot and launched himself at the coconut. He spun.
Blue light shimmered all around him. The blow knocked King Kaliente clean into the lava.
Bowser Jr. shrieked, steering his airship away as he lost yet another Grand Star to Mario. Without the meteors or the massive Rocto to keep the lava hot, the entire planetoid began to cool. Mario offered a starbit to Luma.
Upon their arrival, The Grand Star brought him back all the way around the Observatory. He could hear the tingling cheers of the Lumas as he passed, and the beeping thanks of Gearmo for fixing the Engine Room again, before he landed on the glass platform.
Luigi immediately ran to meet him, waving a towel. "Capo! How was it?" he asked.
"It was Bowser Jr. again. He is very good at convincing other monsters to fight for him, somehow." Mario shrugged.
"There's no way, Capo. He's just a kid, maybe all those monsters think he's cute or something?" Luigi laughed, moving around him to dust him off. "Look, you're making a mess! Did you roll around in ash or something?"
Mario scratched the back of his head. "No, just another quick fight with King Kaliente. He wasn't happy after last time. It was fun. A little bit more of a challenge." he grinned as Luma punctuated his point with an aggressive reenactment of the fight.
The Grand Star had already blasted off, and both Mario and Luigi stumbled with the force of it striking the beacon. They turned and watched it grow into a bright, iridescent blue, before they started walking again. Luma orbited them with an excited peal, oscillating up and down with an energy Mario hadn't noticed during their excursion to the Lava Reactor. He and Luigi looked at one another, before they noticed a crowd of Lumas gathering at the central map.
The Toads up ahead hopped and cheered; they had watched him land out on the front platform from his journey. Even they were more interested in the central platform than in him.
Mario's heart dropped when he realized what it meant.
Sure enough, Rosalina presided over them all, clearly awaiting his arrival.
Luigi must have noticed the slight tremble in his hands, because he gave a discreet squeeze to his elbow before he stood back. Mario felt a chill go down his spine at the loss of contact. The crowd parted, all eyes on him, and Mario could clearly see when his eyes flickered down that the countdown had reached zero. His shoes squeaked on the glass.
The beacon was so bright that it illuminated Rosalina from behind, making it difficult to look at her for very long. Her superlunary presence somehow exuded both a soft comfort and an impossible pressure.
"Your Special One is held at the center of the universe." she spoke. The rest of the Observatory went deathly quiet. "At the speed we are currently moving through the cosmos, it would take us approximately 42 billion years in your time to get there. With that final Grand Star you returned, the Observatory is at full power. It will take us approximately 13 minutes to arrive."
Mario's blood roared in his ears. All those Stars he brought back, all the panic and hurt he'd navigated. All of it had come to this. And standing there before the Lumas, Toads, his brother, and Rosalina, all that was left of him was a cold, draining pit deep in his stomach.
A gentle hand rested on his shoulder. Mario jolted and looked up to Rosalina's eyes. His trembling instantly stilled. "It is time. Prepare yourself. We will depart only when you are ready."
The others gave a collective murmur of agreement, and Mario swallowed hard before he gave a tiny nod.
There was only one thing he could think of that he needed to do while the others all rushed around him for supplies. The Toad Brigade ambled off to prepare the Starshrooms. Luigi frantically packed food and ran off on whatever errand he could find. The Lumas began consolidating power and readying the Observatory for travel at speeds Mario wasn't sure he would be able to even fathom. Yet, he could not find any productive purpose with any of them. Instead, he felt compelled in the direction of the Bedroom.
There was a mischievous red Luma who had a secret.
O~o~O
This chapter and the quote at the top are from The Little Prince, my beloved 3 I adore this book so so much and I tried here and there to sprinkle references to it in earlier chapters. There is a moment in the story when the character the little prince causes the narrator to identify a hidden truth he had known all along, this idea that the sources of beauty and wonder are invisible. In a way Mario is the aviator here, and Luma plays the part of his little prince. Though Luma did not earn this wisdom from a fox haha
The songs I associate with this chapter are sign 0 by Chouchou, Gravitational by Dolores Fernel, The Place Where They Go by Carlos Cipa, and 13 (There is A Light) by U2. These are mostly instrumentals that kind of provide a mood for everything going on, but the U2 song really just takes me somewhere else. It's kind of a follow up to another one of their songs, Song for Someone, so if you can imagine being familiar with that song as a teen and then hearing the same melody come back in a much more hard-hitting context as an adult, it might explain why I like it so much. I highly recommend listening to Song for Someone and 13 (There is A Light) back to back even if you don't listen to any other song I ever mention.
Also I shared my playlist on my Tumblr, it's called I'll Never Let You Go on Spotify and it's also on Youtube. I've removed the remaining songs so I can add them back as I add more chapters. I don't think I can post links here but feel free to look for them if you're inclined to.
Anyway. If you know the game at all, you might know where the next chapter is headed already. I hope that I've set it up in a way that's immersive and surprising, because the part of the plot specifically that plays out starting next chapter has lived rent free in my head since I was a kid. I'm very excited to share it. Thank you so much for reading 3