Plumbers and Stars

Bowser hasn't spoken since leaving the train but Junior is not worried. He knows no problem cannot be solved by his Papa.

Hovering above clouds and mountain peaks, Junior and Bowser follow the tracks in clown cars. Their destination is the faraway Station One, located near a thriving Koopa community. The two royals will be able to secure temporary fuel sources to get the train moving. But Junior deduces The Golden Koopa will not be capable of Warp Pipe travel without the Cobalt Star.

Junior attempts to offer a suggestion to ease the stress Bowser feels. One that would hopefully correct his hasty decision. "Papa, we could have someone come to us with the fuel replacement."

But Bowser stares ahead, his shoulders hunched. He mumbles under his breath.

Junior continues, "It would save a trip and …."

Bowser cuts him off. "Don't want them to know we broke down. Lemmy is at Station One for security. He will accidently tell the whole empire. And then the Shroob princesses will know. I have to explain my reasons for arriving."

Junior sighs. So Bowser does not want to be embarrassed. "Oh…"

Bowser turns to look at Junior. His expression was dark but Junior knew it was not because of him.

"I'm not leaving your mother and siblings in a dangerous situation, if that is what you're afraid of."

Junior shakes his head. "No, the thief that took the Cobalt Star is long gone."

Bowser sighs, "Besides, I needed time to think."

His eyes focus on a nearby mountain peak. "Son. There are times when you will mess up royally as a King. But it doesn't make you a failure. You just get back up."

Junior thinks back to his earlier diplomatic blunder. Now would be a good time to talk about that. "To be honest Papa. I feel so small. I don't think I can…

Bowser interrupts, "Nonsense. You are my son. Sure you're small but I was tiny too."

Junior feels his frustration mounting again. Once again, Bowser is assuming he can handle challenges like him. But Junior wants his father to understand. "But I…"

Bowser points a claw at his chest. "Don't sweat it. It took until my teen years to get this beefy. When I was a preteen, and before my growth spurt, I was skinny and had awkward looking fangs. Don't ask for a photo. I have them buried in a vault several hundred feet underground. Peaches can NEVER see them, Bwa ha ha!"

Junior covers his face with his claws. He decides to give up trying to talk. "Nevermind."

Bowser shifts his clown car closer to Junior's. "Hey, our conversation was getting good! Why the long face?"

Junior stares ahead with a serious expression. "..."

Steam puffs out of Bowser's nostrils. "We'll change the subject. What about your friend?"

Junior's expression lightens. He checks his phone to see if she had sent him a text. He had sent her about five earlier. But she didn't respond to any of them. Did he scare her off?

Disappointed he still did not have a response, Junior pulls out his laptop. He decides this would be a good time to search the dark web. The sooner the bounty hunters are dealt with the sooner he can get home.

Annoyed, Bowser focuses on his piloting. "Well make sure you call 'Mat.' What I would have given to have friends when I was little…..."

Junior feels a pang of guilt for ignoring Bowser. "We have a job to do, Papa." He clicks on a map app to get a look of the area. Junior notices a massive civilization not too far from the tracks.

"Papa!"

Bowser turns towards him with a hopeful look.

"We're not too far from Nimbus. Aren't they the ones you have a fuel trade deal with?"

Bowser's eyes light up. "Wait… that's it! Oh I forgot….I can bypass having to go to Lemmy for help!"

Bowser spins his clown car in a circle, pumping his fists. "Oh man! This solves our problem for now! Where do we go, son?"

Junior smiles as he looks at the map. "Follow me. We're not too far from the kingdom."

Filled with pride, Bowser rustles Junior's mane. "See? You're awesome, son!"

Junior gives him a small nod. "Thanks, Papa…."

"He sent another one…Is he a creep or something." Billy frowns as he looks through Marilyn's phone messages.

Hopeless, she stands before him as he relaxes in the captain chair. Other members of H.E.R.O are piloting the spaceship.

"Junior likes talking," Marilyn defends. "And can I have my phone back?"

She reaches for the phone but Billy raises his arm. "Nope. This is now property of H.E.R.O. Who knew the prince would accidently help us to keep track of his father?"

Marilyn folds her arms and marches over to a seat. She crashes down, fighting tears back.

"Please, let us go back home," She whispers.

Billy shakes his head. "I thought you would have your uncles' adventurous spirit."

Marilyn hangs her head.

Some of the staff side eye Billy. He sighs, "Look you'll see why all this is being done. All we're doing is for the sake of humanity!"

"Seems more like for your sake." Marilyn counters.

Billy growls, "I don't have time for your sass. We're entering Star Haven's air space."

He looks around. "Mario and Luigi must be having a secret meeting. They've been in the cafeteria too long."

Mario and Luigi were crouching under a table in the cafeteria. Between the two was a detailed drawing of the ship.

"Lu, I don't know how much longer I can wait," Mario complains.

Luigi grimaces, "I know I'm being overly cautious….but I just want to make sure we can fix this while not endangering our family back home."

The green plumber pulls out another piece of paper. It was a sketch of Bowser and his family. Luigi marks out Junior, Apricot, and Toad.

"I know for certain these guys need to be protected. And I didn't see anything to be concerned about on the train. I think H.E.R.O has Bowser all wrong."

Mario lifts his cap to run his fingers through his hair. "Billy seems adamant about the king."

"I know and he has good reason," Luigi stares at the picture. "I peeked through H.E.R.O's files and ... .Bowser was a piece of work. His tactics changed after marrying Peach…"

Mario's brow slants. "If he does anything that puts his queen in danger, he will hear from me."

Luigi folds up the papers and pockets them in his overalls. "I think he has turned over a new leaf."

Luigi's worried eyes then shift around. "Come on Mario. They'll be looking for us."

But Mario spots Mr. Eraser looking from above behind Luigi.

"Hey, kids. This meeting is unauthorized. You know what happens when you disobey the rules?"

Luigi gasps, "What do you mean!?"

Mario leaps at Mr. Eraser to protect his brother. The two tumble along the floor before Mr. Eraser kicks Mario off.

"Luigi! I'm done waiting!" Mario shouts.

Luigi reaches out in vain. "Wait!"

Mario sends Mr. Eraser flying with a punch. He then leaps after him. Mario throws another punch. But Mr. Eraser blocks the blow with his skinny black leg. Mario leaps over him and lands to throw another hit. But Mr. Eraser blocks it again.

As Mario pulls out his hammer, Mr. Eraser lowers his head and erases the floor under him!

Mario plumets through and Luigi leaps after him.

"Mario!"

Mario desperately claws at the air as he descends. But it's no use. There's nothing but spiky mountains awaiting them below. Mario curses himself and reaches for Luigi. He can only hope to shield his brother from impending death. Mario's thoughts then go to his dear Pauline and the others. How will they react?

But before they hit the spikes, Mr. Eraser drops past them and erases the spikes. Mario's back hits the now smoothed ground. Pain rushes through him on impact but he will survive this.

Stunned, Mario holds onto Luigi while staring up at the starry sky. The ship lands at a nearby space port.

Mr. Eraser approaches the plumbers and bends to talk to Mario. "I'm trying to help you. That was a warning, kid. Next time, it may go differently."

Radiance. Splendor.

Those were just some of the words Mario would use to describe the Council Chambers. But Mario could not focus on the grand hall. His eyes were on the stars present. They were in seats that spiral to the top. And at the highest point, the Millennium Star sits.

In the circle below, Billy presents video evidence of Bowser's rampage. It was footage of him battling Midbus.

From the side, Mario shakes his head. The event happened, but editing makes it look like Bowser was endangering locals without a care.

There is no reaction from the stars present but Mario knows they are telepathically talking to each other. If his old friend, Rosalina, was here she would be able to translate. Mario scans the crowd for Rosalina, hoping for any sign of her.

He pauses when Millenium speaks audibly to Billy about his findings. Mario notices Luigi ducking his head.

"What's wrong Luigi?"

Luigi points to the Millennium Star. "I recognize that voice. I don't think he would be happy to see me."

Before Mario can ask for context, Billy turns off the video.

Billy straightens his tie. "And that was the altercation Bowser had with hunters. We're working to track the organization they are with. Their leader is evasive but we know they were hired by the shroobs. The conflict between the koopas and the shroobs will worsen."

The Millennium Star descends to the floor level, light emitting from his form. "We cannot let that happen. We will give all the resources you need to prevent this war from happening."

Billy bows. Millennium bypasses him and approaches Mario and Luigi. His eyes cut to Luigi who averts his eyes.

Ignoring the awkward tension, Mario speaks up. "I hope you will do your own investigation too, Grand One."

Billy glares at Mario but Millennium laughs. "Of course. You are the one that helped Rosalina right? We believe in justice too, Mario."

Mario wanted to inquire why the star was unwilling to help Rosalina earlier if he believes in justice. But he restrains himself. There is no way this being simply believes anything Billy says, unless he wants to believe it.

Mario begins to see why Luigi was waiting. They need to know who is friend and who is foe.

Suddenly, Millennium looks up at the other stars, his frustration evident.

Billy fiddles with his fingers. "Mind letting us in on the conversation?"

Remembering his guests, the Millennium Star looks down. "Sorry. They were arguing about the charity work Queen Peach does with Bowser's assistance. They are having trouble understanding the fact Bowser could regress. But you have our support."

Mario makes a mental note to inform Queen Peach the next time he sees her. Until then….

"Well, I look forward to working with you!" Mario lies.

Millennium nods, his eyes still on Luigi. "Indeed."

Back on Earth, Pauline paces across her office floor. Despite her anxiety she has handled her duties. But the longer her family is missing, the more worried she becomes. She does not even notice her aide, Ralph, entering the room.

Ralph sets a stack of documents down on her desk. "Mayor. I'm sure the Mario Brothers are on another space faring adventure. They'll be back."

Pauline pauses and bites a nail. "For Mario to not contact me…it must be serious. It has me worried, Ralph."

"I guess…."

"He has such a big heart," Pauline mumbles.

Ralph pulls out a chair and pats it. "Here, you need to take a seat, boss."

Pauline reluctantly complies while Ralph prepares a cup of coffee for her. "Your job is to run Brooklyn. My job is to aid you in your sworn duties."

Pauline accepts the cup and takes a sip. "The right amount of cream…I'm glad I hired you."

"You could express that in a promotion."

Pauline covers her mouth to laugh. "I just gave you one!"

Ralph shrugs. "It doesn't hurt to try."

Pauline looks out the window with a solemn stare. "Man, I could use another royal cake right about now."

Ralph rubs at his mustache. "Ah, the line of bakeries owned by …Peach."

"Yeah, looking back I think I saw someone named Daisy on that box too," Pauline adds.

"Such a small universe," Ralph muses.

Pauline looks up at him curiously. "Huh?"

"Nothing."

Ralph's phone rings and he lifts an eyebrow. He nods at Pauline and leaves the room. "Sorry, this is a call I need to take. Make sure you get some rest, boss."

After exiting, Ralph walks into a closet and closes the door. He answers with a growl in his voice.

"I told you to not call me outside work hours, Midbus!"

"But you at other job…."

"I don't…." Ralph's face wrinkles up and he pulls at his red mustache. "Why are you calling me!?"

"A big man wanted talk with our manager."

"Then give him her number!"

"I forgot it."

Ralph smacks his face. "What does the big man even want!?"

Midbus chuckles, "Tried to hide his identity…coward. He knows we're busy but he wants to hire us for a side mission."

"Side mission?"

"Yeah. He wants us to kill a guy named Luigi."