Update: 10/18/20: Well now, this chapter was a loooong time coming! It's been almost 5 years since I last updated this story, and this chapter was started years ago. It feels good to finally finish it, and I hope that I can continue to write more of this story. As I said in a previous post, this is very much a side project of mine, although I never forgot about it. Looking back, I have loved writing this, and hope that I can eventually bring it to the proper conclusion that it deserves. I hope you all enjoy this, and any and all future chapters of this story I write. I still plan to try and finish it someday, but it may take a long time. Thanks to everyone who has enjoyed reading this over the years, and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story!

Chapter 16: Cricket Pie With Old Friends

She stood there in front of him, her long, beautiful, golden hair blowing softly in the breeze. Her elegant, pink dress danced in the sunlight as she stood barefoot in the soft, green grass. She gave him a loving smile so sweet and genuine, set off perfectly by her rosy cheeks. For what seemed like the thousandth time, but felt like the first, he found himself lost in those deep, captivating, blue eyes, those eyes that always captured his glance, and his heart.

His love, his life. Mario could do nothing else but smile back at Peach, his knees weak, his heart palpitating heavily upon her gaze. He was the luckiest man in the world, and the simple sight of her filled him with joy, warmth and love. She was his, and he was hers, two hearts joined forever in unconditional love.

"I love you, Mario" She said in a soft, loving tone.

Mario felt his heart flutter, and a chill go down his spine.

"I love you too, Peach." He replied in a near whisper, his breath almost completely taken away.

Peach's smile only grew wider, and she gave a small nod. The wind's soft whistle was the only break in the otherwise perfect silent tranquility of the bright, serene field. Miles of open grasslands surrounded them with nothing but blue sky in sight.

Peach only giggled softly in reply, and slowly approached him, her stride graceful and confident. Soon she stood right before him, her hands grasping his, their fingers softly intertwining, and he felt a wave of adrenaline flow through his body. She leaned in closely for a kiss, but paused just as their lips were about to touch.

"Mario." She whispered softly.

"Yes, my love?" He replied in a tender voice.

"Wake up." She replied.

Mario gave her a confused look, and shook his head.

"Huh?" He blurted out, surprised.

Suddenly, a long, sticky tongue flew out of her mouth, slobbering his cheek with saliva. Mario gasped, jumping back in response, wide-eyed and flabbergasted.

"P.. peach.. what?!" He exclaimed in shock.

"Mario, wake uuupppp!" She suddenly shouted as the long tongue slobbered him again.

"Yaaaaahhhh!" He shouted, jolting up to his feet as he opened his eyes, a rush of adrenaline flowing through him. He quickly looked around in panic, as the realization hit him that he had been asleep and dreaming. As he slowly came to his senses, he heard a voice behind him giggling.

"He he he..." The voice chuckled. It was Yoshi, who stood behind him, his back leaning against the trunk of a large oak tree.

"I thought you would never wake up!" His green companion explained. He frowned as he eyed Mario from head to toe, his cheeks going flush. "Sorry to startle you Mario, but you had me worried..."

Mario quickly took in his surroundings. The pair were beneath an enormously large oak tree at the shore of a wide river. There was a slight chill in the air, and the grass was slick with dew, or perhaps the remnants of a morning rainfall. The sun had yet to reach its zenith in the cloudy, blue sky and Mario quickly ascertained that it was mid-morning. As if in response to his thoughts, he heard the sound of birds chirping. Mario sighed, and gave his friend a small smile and a nod.

"No worries, buddy." He replied reassuringly. "How long was I out for, and where are we?"

Yoshi sighed in relief, and once again that long, sticky tongue shot out of his mouth, slobbering Mario's face once more. Mario flinched in response, wiping the saliva off of his cheek with a gloved hand, but smiled. Yoshis were very loving, affectionate creatures, and although Mario did not particularly enjoy being slobbered, he knew his friend meant well, and was just showing how relieved he was that he was okay.

"You've been out of it since late yesterday afternoon." Yoshi said with a frown. "When you didn't wake up this morning I was afraid you were seriously hurt. You looked okay, but you were unconscious and floating down the river when I finally managed to find you and swim you back to shore."

Mario started at that, and as if just noticing for the first time, felt the dampness in his clothes, his boots sloshing on the wet grass as he took a few steps toward Yoshi. He pulled off his red cap and rang it out, the water dripping onto the soft grass. He gave Yoshi a nod and patted him on the head.

"Thanks, buddy." He said appreciatively. "I owe you one."

Yoshi smiled and nodded back to him.

"It's nothing, Mario." He replied. "I'm just glad you're okay."

"Where are we? And how did I end up in the river?" Mario replied, confused.

"You don't remember?" Yoshi replied, slightly tilting his large head. "The river washed us away after our encounter with Belome. He must have opened the gate on us after I beat him."

Mario nodded in understanding as, like the torrent of water that had washed them away, the series of events came flooding back to him. He felt slightly dizzy, cold and fatigued as the realization hit him that he had been out of it for nearly a full day. Their journey was important, and suddenly his thoughts turned to the Star Road, the Super Happy Tree, Bowser's truce, and of course, Peach. He wondered how she was fairing at the moment and hoped that she wasn't worrying about them.

As if reading his thoughts, Yoshi took a step forward, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Everything okay?" His friend asked with a concerned look.

"Yes, fine." Mario replied with a small smile. He could not let Yoshi know how weak and confused he was feeling at the moment, and gave him a determined look. Mario knew his friend was counting on him, and took a step forward as he adjusted his red cap. He felt a sneeze come on, but managed to stifle it.

"It's time to press on, buddy." He said determinedly. "We've lost enough time as it is. What direction did we come from?"

Yoshi smiled then, as if reassured by Mario's renewed determination and vigor. Mario certainly did not feel that way, but would press on regardless.

"We came from that direction." Yoshi said with a nod, pointing behind him. Mario turned around and his eyes went wide as he gazed upon an enormous waterfall. Instantly, he knew where he was, but felt dizzy as he realized that the river had carried them all the way down the waterfall. He stumbled slightly, overwhelmed at the sight before him, but Yoshi grabbed his arm, balancing him and keeping him on his feet. Mario turned to his friend, gave him an appreciative nod and took a deep breath as Yoshi carefully let him go.

"It was quite a fall." Yoshi said. "I was able to swim through the current safely, but it was not easy, and scary! It wasn't until I reached the bottom and swam down the river a while that I was able to spot you. I'm sorry Mario. I searched frantically to try and find you, but it was all I could do not to totally lose control and hit my head on a rock or drown."

"It's okay, buddy." Mario replied reassuringly. "Let's just go."

Mario slowly took a step forward, but his legs felt wobbly. Yoshi darted in front of him and patted the red saddle on his back.

"Hop on, Mario" His friend said, smiling. "Take a rest, I can get us where we need to go."

Mario nodded appreciatively and climbed up onto Yoshi's back, gripping the scales on the back of his head for support. Up ahead, about a few hundred yards away, he saw the river's end, emptying into a large body of water. The grassland and rocky terrain of the riverbank gave away to a marshy pond of mud and thick ferns. A small dirt path wound through a thicket of trees, and Mario regarded a small wooden sign at the end of the thicket, beaten up by countless years of water and exposure to the elements. Scratched and barely legible in the soft wood, the words "Tadpole Pond" were engrained.

"We're here." Mario announced. "Tadpole Pond is just ahead."

Yoshi glanced back at Mario and gave him a curt nod and a small smile. Up ahead, Mario could see that the narrow dirt path abruptly ended at the large body of water. Ferns and thick foliage seemed to line the edge of the opaque, sludgy water. Tiny insects danced above the soupy green mass, and Mario noted that the water, though lively and teaming with life, looked so still and untouched, that had he not known better he might have tried to stroll across it without thinking. As the pair approached a narrow break along the pond's shoreline where a small, flat rock lay embedded into the dry mud, an unbidden realization struck Mario like a slap in the face.

I haven't been here in ten years. He thought. Frogfucious was very elderly even then. What if he is long gone?

A dark thought, that. But no, the wise old frog still had quite a hop left in his step when Mario had last seen him. What's more, and although Mario disliked thinking this way about his old friend, he had to admit that the prospect of Frogfucious not being alive to give them the information they needed would really put a huge damper on things. Not that their need for more knowledge about what was happening took precedence over the old frog's life, but that Mario would certainly find it a lot harder to figure out where to even start on his own. As outwardly confident and sure of himself as Mario had exuded to others, inwardly his concern was growing deeper by the hour and as each new event unfolded. The stars of Star Road vanishing one by one and the Super Happy Tree dying on the same night? Kamek showing up the very next day touting a "truce" with Bowser? Confronting Belome for the first time in ten years, and now Frogfucious? And where was Luigi? He could have really used him right about now to pick his brain. Although many people underestimated Luigi, Mario found his brother invaluable in situations like this. Although they were brothers and very close, Luigi had a way of looking at a problem entirely differently than Mario. An asset that Mario not only found incredibly useful, but often relied upon. Luigi would be great to…

"Mario," Yoshi blurted out suddenly, stifling Mario's musings.

"Hmm..?" Mario replied somewhat absently.

"All I can see are plants, mud and water. I don't think anyone is around." Yoshi said, frowning.

"Stop right here," Mario said, dismounting from Yoshi's back as his friend stopped right at the end of the dirt path. Mario took a step forward gingerly, still feeling a bit shaky, and slowly made his way to the flat rock near the edge of the water. His boots sloshed in the mud as he approached, still damp from the morning's rainfall. As if in response, a sneeze suddenly came upon him, blowing out his mustache loudly. He shivered and shook himself, realizing that all of his clothes were still a bit damp, including his gloves and in his boots.

"Are you okay, Mario?" Yoshi asked in a concerned voice. His frown deepened.

"I'm fine, buddy." Mario replied, giving his friend a small smile. "Last time I was here, I stepped on this stone, and I think…" As he spoke, Mario stepped on the flat rock, and although nothing happened, another bigger, louder sneeze overtook him, echoing across the pond.

"A little under the weather, grasshopper?" A gravelly voice croaked from behind. He jumped nearly out of his boots and spun around towards the direction of the voice, about two or three yards away and coming from behind one of the larger ferns. Yoshi had also jumped and was at Mario's side in an instant.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Yoshi shouted, moving into a more defensive stance.

As the foliage rustled, Mario put a hand on Yoshi's shoulder and smiled at him.

"Take it easy, buddy." He said softly. "I think we have found who we have been looking for."

"I hope you haven't been looking too hard," the voice said as a figure revealed himself from behind the fern. A very old, grizzled green frog, about half Mario's height, slowly hobbled over to the pair. He had an enormously long, white beard that nearly dragged on the ground and wore a strange, purple scholar's hat, the bottom lined with a golden ribbon. Mario noted that Frogfucious moved slower and had more pronounced lines around his beady eyes than the last time he had seen him, and was also relying heavily on a long, wooden walking staff to move. Mario was delighted to note however that he otherwise looked very much the old, wise frog Mario had remembered.

"I don't venture too far away from the Pond these days, so an extensive search would be rather redundant." Frogfucious gestured with his staff as if to punctuate what he was saying. "Tell me, how fares my grandson, Mario? I haven't heard from him for quite a long time now."

Mario felt a stab of guilt at the question. When had been the last time he had seen Mallow? It must have been almost ten years ago. When Mario had originally sought to find the seven pieces of the Star Road, Mallow had been his first companion. Frogfucious had told Mallow the truth about his heritage. That he was found by Frogfucious as a young boy and raised among the tadpoles. The last Mario had seen of his friend, he had been crowned Prince of Nimbus Land, a kingdom in the clouds high above Bean Valley.

Mario frowned. "Unfortunately, neither have I, I'm afraid. It's good to see you again Frogfucious."

Frogfucious leaned heavily on his walking staff, and gave a deep sigh.

"I was afraid so." He exhaled sadly. "I know I'm not his real grandfather, but it would be nice to see the boy once in a while. I am afraid most of my children and grandchildren have moved on since we last saw one another, Mario. To cultivate new lives with their own families. I suppose Mallow's no different. I just miss him so."

Mario and Yoshi exchanged glances, and Yoshi frowned.

"So you're all alone here?" Yoshi asked softly.

Frogfucious gave a small start as if Yoshi's question brought him back to reality and he chuckled softly.

"Oh, heavens no, my young… lizard?" Frogucious began with a curious glance.

"I'm Yoshi, of Yoshi's Island." Yoshi corrected.

"Ah, a Yoshi. Been many many years since I have seen one of you in the flesh." Frogfucious rubbed at his long beard quizzically. "No matter. Only the youngest tadpoles remain. About 50 or so, which may sound like a lot, but is really quite small compared to the crowd I am used to."

Mario smiled at the confused look on Yoshi's expression, then regarded the old frog.

"Frogfucious, I am sorry to be so hasty here, but we have come for some information, if you have any." He said.

Frogfucious nodded slowly, and made a wide gesture with his cane.

"Ah, come to hear what news flows down from the waterways of the world, eh?" Mario and Yoshi both nodded at this, and Frogfucious smiled. "Well, I in fact just received news not ten minutes ago. Big news. To be frank and completely honest with you, I'm not surprised to find you here, my boy. Events are much more troubling than even you might realize, and there is much to discuss."

Mario raised an eyebrow at this and he and Yoshi again nearly jumped out of their boots as he heard another voice coming from the thicket of trees from directly behind him.

"Much to discuss indeed." Said a baritone voice in a very serious tone. "And far more troubling than you could possibly imagine."

Mario gaped as a figure, like a ghost from his past, emerged from the trees. He stood about Mario's height, perhaps an inch or so taller at most, and wore a deep blue hat, matching cape and maroon boots that sloshed in the mud as he approached. His skin was not flesh, but dark wood, and his dark, crimson eyes stared with a downcast, yet surprisingly warm look as Mario met them. As if the realization of their reunion crashed into both of them at the same time, Mario and Geno laughed loudly, and met in a friendly embrace.

"How long has it been, old friend?" Mario chuckled. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

"Too long, Mario." Geno said with a warm, but serious tone. "Believe me, I'm just as surprised as you, although I am relieved that I found you so quickly.

After a minute or so, the two broke their hug and Mario examined his old friend. Geno looked tired and worn. As if his wooden doll body had been stored in a basement for the last decade. What appeared to be black soot decorated his face, as if a flurry of ashes had blown directly into it. His hat and cape were wrinkled and looked a bit damp, and his boots looked soaked. As he examined Geno, he noticed his friend frown at the same time that Mario himself did.

"You look terrible." They said in unison, and both started at the other's words.

Suddenly the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through the awkward moment, and they both turned toward Frogfucious.

"You both look like you came down the Midas Falls," Frogfucious exclaimed, gesturing toward the enormous waterfall behind them with his staff.

"I don't know about the blue guy," Yoshi added "But I know Mario did."

Mario chuckled at this and walked back over to Yoshi, Geno in toe. He slapped his friend on the shoulder, caught a sneeze, and gestured to Geno.

"Yoshi, this is Geno of the Star Road. Protector of the Seven Stars!" Mario exclaimed. He then turned to Geno. "This is Yoshi, of Yoshi's Island. One of my best friends and probably the biggest eater you'll ever meet."

Geno nodded to Yoshi and Yoshi blushed.

"Don't embarrass me, Mario." Yoshi he said with a smile "Nice to meet you, Geno."

"And you." Geno said, taking Yoshi's hand. "Any friend of Mario's is a friend of mine."

"Ah yes, food." Frogfucious broke in. "How rude of me. Mario, Yoshi, and Geno. Won't you all join me for some cricket pie? We have much to discuss." He regarded Geno, who remained relatively silent. "Oh yes, much to discuss indeed, now that you are here."

Geno said nothing in response, just gave the old frog a small nod as Mario sneezed again, this time much louder.

"We had better get you a tonic and a bit of tree sap my boy." Frogfucious added. "I have an excellent remedy for colds."

Mario opened his mouth to protest that he was fine, but only sneezed again in response. Instead, he just nodded his acquiescence to the old frog and gave Geno another glance.

And now Geno returns after ten years. He thought. And after I watched the Star Road disappear just two nights ago.

Oh yes, events were unfolding quickly indeed.

A little while later, the group were all sitting cozily around a small wooden table in the center of an island in the middle of Tadpole Pond. A few tadpoles had come around and carried the group to the little island that Frogfucious had called home, and Mario had downed an odd mixture of something that tasted sweet when they arrived. He didn't feel much different, but did note that he had not sneezed again since taking the strange brew. A couple of cricket pies laid freshly baked on the table, and Yoshi sat solemnly, clearly resisting every urge to lap up both pies in a heartbeat. Mario had had a short conversation with him about that on their way to the island. Frogfucious sat at the head of the table, with Mario to his left, and Yoshi to his right directly across from Mario. Geno sat at the other end, both hands resting patiently on the table as Frogfucious cut a slice of the first pie and put it on Mario's plate. Mario thanked him, gesturing towards Yoshi.

"I'd give him a fairly generous portion, if you don't mind." He said.

Frogfucious smiled. "Oh, that's what this second pie here is for. I thought that if I was going to invite a Yoshi for pie, I might need an extra one."

Yoshi beamed as Frogfucious laid the entire second pie right in front of him.

"There are two more in the oven, my boy. So eat up." He said, smiling.

Yoshi nearly jumped out of his chair in excitement, and almost downed the entire pie with one lash of his tongue, but stopped mid-lash and eyed Mario. He snapped his tongue back into his mouth and sighed.

"Could you cut this into slices for me, please?" He asked reluctantly.

Frogfucious nodded, cutting the pie into eight slices as Yoshi sat there staring like a ravenous dog. Mario giggled softly to himself and felt a bit guilty about it, but couldn't help laughing. Mario thought that even if the world itself changed, Yoshi's appetite would not. After a couple of torturous minutes for his poor friend, Yoshi lashed his tongue out and started eating the pie slices one by one. When he got halfway through he smiled, licking his lips.

"DELICIOUS!" Yoshi exclaimed happily, then lashed his tongue out for another couple slices.

"No pie for me, thanks." Geno said, lifting up his palm as Frogfucious attempted to put a slice on his plate. "I'm not hungry."

Frogfucious raised an eyebrow at this and took the pie for his own plate. Mario lifted his fork and dug in. The pie was quite good! The three ate in silence for a few minutes, until Geno started to drum his fingers against the table impatiently. The sound of wood on wood thunked loudly on the table, and finally Geno stood up, pushing his chair aside, and started pacing back and forth from one end of the small island to the other. He put his arms behind his back, underneath his cape and spoke up.

"I'm afraid I don't have a moment to spare, and if I may, would like to get right to the point here." Geno began. "Mario, as great as it is to see you again, I did not come back to this land for a visit, I'm afraid."

Mario frowned, and in the midst of lifting his fork for another bite, put it back down and nodded.

"I saw it happen you know." He said solemnly. "I watched the stars go out one by one the other night. I'm so sorry my friend." He truly did feel for Geno. His own fears about the Star Road aside, he knew this must be much harder for Geno. Not only did he lose his home, but for a second time, and seemingly forever if his worst suspicions were true.

Geno nodded. "It's far worse than you could imagine this time."

A loud cough interrupted the pair, and Mario regarded Frogfucious. Geno stopped pacing to stare at the old amphibian.

"Smithy completely destroyed it this time, eh?" Frogfucious said regretfully. "I have had no word of any Star Pieces falling to the earth, unfortunately. Though I have heard reports of some strange creatures, like the shapes of weapons around."

"How?" Was all Mario could say.

Frogfucious took one last, large bite of his cricket pie, then pushed his plate away, dabbing his mouth with a handkerchief. Small crumbs caught in his beard and he brushed at it, then spoke up.

"As you know, information flows down the waterways to us here at Tadpole Pond. Has for years." He began. "Since that incident with you two and my grandson ten years ago, I have made it a point to keep one eye towards the stars, and I too witnessed their light fade the other night. I immediately contacted all of my children and various other sources throughout the land to begin a rigorous search for any shooting stars or stars falling to the earth. I have yet to receive a single report-and believe me, my sources are both thorough and fast-of any star pieces landing. Although there was one report just this morning of two tiny, shooting stars falling to earth yesterday. That was you, wasn't it my boy?" He gestured towards Geno with his staff, giving the possessed doll a small smile.

Geno looked momentarily floored, but quickly gained his composure. Mario had to admit that he was quite taken aback himself. He knew Frogfucious could get information quickly, but it always amazed him just how fast and efficient his information could be.

I wonder why he has such a hard time keeping track of Mallow, then? He wondered. Geno finally shook his head and sighed.

"We arrived on this planet at roughly mid-day yesterday. My plan was to retrieve the doll, then find Mario as quickly as possible." He nodded to Mario, giving him a very serious look.

"Looks like you were very successful in that, my boy." Frogfucious replied. He leaned back in his chair, shifting and stroking his long beard.

"Sort of." Geno mused. "On our way down, something crashed into us when I wasn't looking, and I lost control and tumbled to the earth. I was very fortunate to land in Rose Town, and was able to collect the doll along the way. I spent the night wandering through the forest until this morning. Unfortunely, I was… distracted and lost a lot of time, and decided to stop here since it was so close and to see if you had any information I could use."

"A wise decision, that." Frogfucious replied. "Lucky you made it here when you did, what with Mario here just arriving moments before." Frogfucious once again gestured toward Mario, who nodded. "And tell me, what brings you here after so long, my boy?"

Mario started a bit, not really expecting to be addressed so suddenly. Something about what Geno said bothered him. It seemed like his old friend wasn't telling the whole story.

"I'm guessing it's for the same reason that Geno is back." He said, shrugging. "The Star Road vanishing changes everything, and that's not all. On the same night…"

"The Super Happy Tree." Yoshi suddenly whimpered. "It died the same night." Mario could almost hear is friend choke back tears at that part.

"No coincidence, that." Frogfucious said.

"But, why?" Yoshi whined, almost in tears.

Frogfucious raised a thick white eyebrow toward Geno, who crossed his arms and nodded. "Shall I explain it to the lad, or you?"

"The Star Road is… gone." Geno began. Mario noticed his wooden hands ball into fists, and he started shaking. "It's quite simple, Yoshi. What do the Yoshis of Yoshi's Island do every night?"

Yoshi blinked, then tapped at his head as if trying to knock the answer out of himself.

"Well, we have dinner, then a snack, then second, third and fourth dinner…" He trailed off thinking. "Oh, and then we have our dance! Our dance of thanks for the Super Happy Tree!" He exclaimed.

"And what do you do at this dance?" Geno prodded.

"Well, we sing, and play music and we pray… oh we pray and wish for the Super Happy Tree to continue to grow fresh fruit for us and to keep the fresh waters rich with minerals, and for the sun to always shine bright and hot!" He was smiling now, but after a minute it slipped, and he sunk a little. "…and now it's all over I guess."

Mario frowned. He hated seeing his normally cheerful and happy friend so deflated.

"Well, there's your answer my boy." Frogfucious interjected. "What does the Star Road do?"

Yoshi looked puzzled. "Well, it grants wishes, right?" Frogfucious nodded, and Mario could see Geno was also nodding too.

Of course, it's so simple. Mario thought. Feeling a bit foolish that he hadn't put it together before.

"If the Star Road is destroyed, no wishes can come true…" Geno said.

"…so the wishes of all of the Yoshi's can't be fulfilled." Mario added.

"..and that means…" Yoshi said struggling. "The Super Happy Tree can't grow and continue to provide for us."

"Precisely." Frogfucious finished. "I'm afraid, my boy, that as long as the Star Road is destroyed, no wishes will come true, and that means that the Super Happy Tree is an unfortunate casualty, a very unfortunate casualty I'm afraid."

Yoshi frowned, his head sinking again. A single tear trailed down his face, finally dripping off of his nose and onto the mostly eaten pie. Yoshi whimpered, wiped his eyes with his hand, and pushed the pie away from himself.

"I… I'm not hungry anymore." Yoshi sniffed solemnly.

Mario tried to give his friend a small smile, but Yoshi appeared lost in his grief. He decided to give his friend a little space, and regarded Geno.

"So what happened to it?" He finally asked.

"It's a long story." Geno replied, and proceeded to tell them everything. He spoke about the Star Spirits and the attack on the Star Temple. He spoke of Twink and the Star Rod, and how he was separated from both upon their decent. He spoke of Smithy and his underlings, and Mario noticed that a fire burned in his eyes as he relayed the tale of Smithy destroying his home, slaughtering his people, and how he caused the very stars themselves to wink out, one by one. Mario had never seen, in all of his time adventuring with his old friend, such a burning intensity, and such fury. Geno was clearly not taking things well, and it was starting to show. There was a pause in the conversation, and Mario looked around the table at his companions. They were a sorry lot. Frogfucious, a grizzled old frog who could barely hop any longer without his staff. Yoshi, his normally bright, cheerful demeanor nearly broken with sorrow and loss. Geno, whose normally stoic, yet calm and focused air now completely jarred and on edge, like a taut string on the verge of snapping. And himself… well, how did he feel? How did he look? He felt exhausted and worn down and, based on what everyone had been saying earlier, probably looked no better. What were they to do? How could they fight something so powerful, with so much hate and destruction? Mario wanted to just lie down and sleep for a week straight. Maybe two. But no, now was not the time for that.

He finally let out a sigh, then stood up and stretched, jogging in place and slapping himself a few times. The others looked at him as if he suddenly were mad, then he gave a small smile and jumped as high as he could, doing a front flip mid-air and landing it perfectly. He pounded his fist in the air, and winked at his companions.

"If Smithy is back, we will take care of him, right?" He said, regarding each of them in turn. Even if he didn't truly feel top notch at the moment, somebody had to be positive, to bring light to the shadow cast over them. He saw Yoshi begin to nod his head slowly, and Frogfucious once again stroked his large beard in thought. Geno turned away, staring off toward the shore from where they had come, toward the Midas Falls and beyond.

"It won't be easy. It's much different this time, Mario." Geno said in a soft, serious tone. "Even I don't know where to begin.

"There must be some kind of lead, Geno." Mario insisted. "What happened to you this morning?"

Geno jumped at the sudden question, and spun back toward them, regarding Mario. He felt a bit guilty springing the question on his friend, but he had a hunch…

"It's nothing." Geno said in a curt tone.

"Your ashen stained cheeks tell a different story, m' boy." Frogfucious suddenly interjected. "If you'll pardon my saying so."

Geno frowned, putting a hand to his face, then pulling it away, and seemed surprised to find that his palm was almost completely black. He sighed and shook his head.

"I encountered a bit of hostility this morning." He finally admitted.

Mario wondered why Geno would be so reluctant to tell them about it. It certainly wouldn't be the first time he would have been in a fight. Mario remembered countless battles with all kinds of enemies, Geno by his side. Geno had been very skilled with magic, more than anyone he had ever met. He even made Kamek, one of the oldest and most experienced Magikoopas, seem like a novice in comparison.

"It wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that giant airship that passed by here early this morning, would it?" Frogfucious added.

"Airship?" Mario found himself saying.

Frogfucious nodded. "Indeed. Huge, foreboding looking thing of stone and steel, with a giant blade at its head. I nearly dropped my bucket of crickets this morning when I saw it!"

"Blade!" Mario and Geno exclaimed, once again in unison.

"Blade?" Yoshi chimed in. He had been so withdrawn that Mario had almost forgotten that he was there.

"Blade was Smithy's ship. Or at least, some of his underlings used it." Mario said. "I thought we had destroyed it, but if Smithy is alive, I don't doubt he reforged that, and many other things."

"Including Bowyer." Geno added. "That was the hostility to which I was referring."

Mario's jaw dropped. "You encountered Bowyer!? What happened?"

Geno once again seemed hesitant. He looked directly at Mario, that fire burning hot in his eyes. Mario gazed down and could see his friend gripping his blue cape firmly in both hands, shaking. He reminded Mario of the volcano on Lava Lava Island, when it was on the verge of erupting.

"I… I lost control, Mario." He began. "I don't know what is happening to me. I killed him. I know he was evil, but I slaughtered him. I slaughtered them all."

Mario was floored. Despite what Geno said, he had met Bowyer long ago, and fought him. The creature was evil, and in fact was how he met Geno in the first place, all those years ago. Geno had encountered some trouble with Bowyer, and Mario and Mallow had stepped in to lend a hand. That very fight had kicked off their adventure to find the pieces of the Star Road, and their friendship.

"Bowyer is one of Smithy's cronies." Mario said, consoling his friend. "He had it coming."

"I know." Geno said. "It's not the end that I'm concerned with, but the means."

"You say you lost control?" Frogfucious asked. "What happened?"

Geno blinked. "I… I almost blacked out. It didn't feel like me, but someone else… I just…" Geno seemed at a loss for words.

"No matter." Mario said with a determined look. "We will get through it together."

"But Mario." Geno said. "I completely lost control of myself, and when I… oh, by the Star Spirits. The power."

Mario took a few steps towards his friend and extended his hand.

"Together, old friend." He said. Geno took it. "We will get through all of this together. We will stop Smithy, we will find your friend Twink and the Star Rod, and we will restore your home!"

Geno nodded reluctantly, and gave Mario a grim, though perhaps a bit more determined look. Suddenly Mario heard Yoshi's chair move, and his friend was by his side in an instant.

"Together." Yoshi said, with a determined look. "For the Super Happy Tree." He declared, and put out his hand.

"For the Star Road." Geno added, nodding, and put his wooden hand on top of Yoshis.

"For the all wishes, our friends and each other." Mario added, putting his gloved hand on the top. The three all exchanged glances and nodded.

"Most excellent." Frogfucious said, clapping his hands together. "I shall assist you in any way I can."

Geno walked over toward the old frog, nodding. He rested one hand on the table, the other into his cape.

"Perhaps there is something you could assist me with, Frogfucious." Geno said, pulling an object from his cape. It was a small, glowing red orb. Mario was surprised at how bright the red light was that radiated from it. It reminded Mario of a small sun, the light glowing brightest at its center, radiating outward.

"Curious." Frogfucious said, pulling out a pair of spectacles and taking the small orb in his webbed fingers. He examined it closely, the light seemingly unphasing him, and he stroked his long, white beard. "Where did you get this, lad?"

"I found it in the forest after my encounter with Bowyer." Geno replied. "I assume he or one of his flunkies had it, but I'm not sure."

"Most interesting" Frogfucious mused. "I can't say I have ever seen anything like it, in all of my many years."

"It feels… familiar." Geno added.

"Hm… I wonder…" Frogfucious replied. Then closed his eyes. He appeared to be concentrating hard, and Mario's eyebrows rose as he noticed the orb start to flicker just a little bit brightly for a second. Frogfucious opened his eyes and shook his head. "Anything?"

"It glowed more brightly for a second." Mario said. "What did you do?"

Frogfucious nodded. "I made a wish, my boy." He said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Did it come true?" Yoshi asked, with a hopeful look.

"I don't know." Frogfucious said. "Nobody sees my grandson around, do they?"

The party looked around. After a couple of minutes passed and Mallow didn't come strolling in, they all settled down and Frogfucious gave a sigh. "Too good to be true, I suppose." He said sadly.

"Perhaps that was a bit too much for it?" Mario wondered.

Yoshi stepped forward. "Can I try it?" He asked, walking toward Frogfucious.

Frogfucious handed Yoshi the orb, and he took it in both hands. Yoshi closed his eyes and seemed to be concentrating hard. The orb momentarily glowed a little brighter for a second or two, then Yoshi opened his eyes. They all stood silent for a moment, waiting for something to happen. Suddenly, an alarm started ringing.

"Oh!" Frogfucious exclaimed. "I forgot about the other pies!"

The old frog got up and hobbled away as fast as he could, and shuffled around in the kitchen for a while.

"Would anyone like something else while I'm in here?" He called. "I have a bit of honeydew melon as well!"

"OH! ME!" Yoshi suddenly burst out, jumping up and down excitedly. "My wish! It came true!"

Mario and Geno looked at each other, and despite themselves started laughing a good, guttural chuckle. Things had been so tense, so serious all morning, that the laughter just took ahold of him and wouldn't let go. He sensed the same from Geno, and the two fell over one another, hysterical. Frogfucious came back in holding the melon and the pie, looking genuinely perplexed at the sight before him. Yoshi jumping up and down in excitement, Mario and Geno nearly falling over with laughter.

"What's this?" Frogfucious asked curiously? "What happened?"

The laughter continued for another minute or so, and finally Mario pulled himself together. He adjusted his cap and wiped away a tear with his finger. Geno likewise adjusted his own hat and cape.

"My wish!" Yoshi exclaimed happily. "It came true! I wished for a melon, and now here it is!" Yoshi lashed his tongue out then, snatching the juicy fruit right from Frogfucious's hand, not both waiting for him to place it on the table.

"Ah, delightful!" Frogfucious said with a smile.

"My very hungry friend here might have just given us our first clue." Mario said. "Well done, Yoshi! I could kiss you.

Yoshi lashed out his tongue then, licking Mario's face. Despite the slobber, Mario beamed.

"So, this orb holds the power to grant wishes, at least small ones, anyway." Geno mused, rubbing his wooden chin. "Perhaps a remnant of the Star Road?

"That seems logical." Frogfucious said. "Perhaps when the Star Road was broken, some of its essence was harnessed into this sphere."

"But Bowyer had it." Geno said. "Perhaps Smithy has figured out a way to tap into the Star Road's power."

A chilling thought, that. If Smithy had actually managed to figure out how to use the power of the Star Road for himself… then, well, who knew what the repercussions would be.

"A most disturbing thought." Frogfucious added. "Perhaps we should…"

Frogfucious was cut off by another voice echoing from the water.

"Grandpa!" The voice said. Mario looked down into the water in the direction of the voice and noticed a single tadpole, its slick, gray tail dancing behind it excitedly, like a flag caught in a gust. "Urgent news Grandpa! Just came in!"

"What is it?" Frogfucious said, regarding the tadpole. "Out with it, m' boy!"

"It's the Mushroom Kingdom." The tadpole said urgently. "It's under attack! Peach's Castle has been taken, and a giant sword has crashed into it.

The shockwave hit Mario like a ton of bricks. He stared at his companions, all of them exchanged shocked expressions, and he heard Yoshi moan.

Peach. Mario thought with a sudden burst of fear. Oh, by the Star Spirits. PEACH.

In a flash he was in the pond, swimming as fast as he could across the marshy green water. It was thick and sludgy, and in the back of his mind he thought he could hear someone, perhaps Yoshi? Maybe Geno? Calling his name. It was lost to him, and in a flash he was back on the shore, and running as fast as he could towards the Midas Falls. Nothing else mattered. The Mushroom Kingdom was under attack, Peach was in danger…

…and Smithy had truly returned.