Chapter 12: The Fall of the Comet Observatory
The Comet Observatory drifted peacefully through the cosmos, its gentle glow casting a warm light across the vast darkness of space. Stars shimmered in the distance, and the soft, ethereal hum of the Observatory's engines echoed across its platforms. It was a place of serenity, where the chaos of the universe felt distant and forgotten.
Daisy sat on a soft hill, her legs crossed, trying her best to meditate. She closed her eyes, taking deep, steady breaths, but her mind refused to quiet. Her thoughts kept circling back to one word—"chaos." It was a word that had haunted her dreams lately, echoing in the silence, always out of reach. As much as she tried to focus, her thoughts spiraled, unable to settle.
Nearby, Rosalina floated gracefully above the ground, her eyes closed, her face calm and serene. She seemed to merge with the stars around her, like a celestial being perfectly at home. For her, meditation was a way of communing with the cosmos, of finding peace in the endless expanse. For Daisy, it felt like a constant struggle.
Rosalina opened her eyes, glancing down at Daisy. "You're restless," she said softly, her voice gentle and understanding. "It's alright. Sometimes the mind refuses to be still."
Daisy sighed, opening her eyes and looking up at the distant stars. "I'm sorry. I just... my mind is stuck. I keep thinking about that word from my dreams. 'Chaos.' What does it mean?"
Rosalina's gaze grew distant, her eyes reflecting the starlight. "Chaos can mean many things," she said finally. "It can be destructive, but it is often a precursor to change. Sometimes, it is necessary for something new to emerge."
Daisy hesitated, her curiosity piqued. "What was your life like before all of this? Before the Comet Observatory?"
Rosalina's features softened, and she began to speak, her voice carrying a note of nostalgia. "It wasn't so different from yours, I imagine. There was a time when I..."
She trailed off, her eyes suddenly widening as she looked out into the stars, her expression changing from calm to alarmed. Her body tensed, and her usually serene face twisted with a mixture of disbelief and dread. Daisy followed her gaze, but saw nothing unusual. "Rosalina?" she asked, her voice uncertain. "Did I say something wrong?"
Rosalina's face went pale, her lips parting slightly. "Something is coming," she whispered, almost to herself. "Something terrible."
Before Daisy could ask what she meant, the sky above them darkened, as if a shadow had swallowed the stars. From the abyss, a massive ship emerged, materializing out of the darkness. The Egg Dreadnought, its dark metal hull bristling with weapons, loomed over the Comet Observatory like a predator about to strike.
For a moment, everything was silent, the ship's presence casting an oppressive weight across the Observatory. Then, the attack began. The Dreadnought's cannons fired in rapid succession, explosions rippling through the air as the Observatory shook violently. Lumas scattered in all directions, their soft, glowing forms darting about in panic. The once-peaceful sanctuary was thrown into chaos, the gentle hum replaced by the deafening roar of destruction.
A smaller, egg-shaped platform descended from the ship, and from it stepped Robotnik, his iconic mustache curling with a smug grin. Hovering behind him were several of his drones, each equipped with a pair of claws and emitting a soft mechanical hum as they floated menacingly above the platform. Robotnik strolled across the Observatory as if he owned it, his every step deliberate and theatrical.
"Ah, the Comet Observatory," he declared, spreading his arms wide. "I've been saving this ship for a special occasion, and I couldn't think of a better use for it!"
Rosalina's eyes narrowed, her mind racing as she tried to piece together what was happening. "How did you get off Bowser's Kingdom?" she demanded, her voice trembling with restrained anger. "And how did you hide your actions from me?"
Robotnik's smirk only widened, as if he had been waiting for this moment. "The Master Emerald, my dear. A wonderful little thing, don't you think? It gives me all the power I need... and more."
Rosalina's breath caught, fear flickering in her eyes. "The Master Emerald..." She whispered the name, as if tasting its danger. She knew its power, and now it was in the hands of someone who would use it without restraint.
A sudden burst of green and red appeared as Luigi sprinted onto the platform, the Poltergust 6000 strapped to his back. He was sucking up debris from the attack and shooting it back toward Robotnik, trying to create some kind of defense. But Robotnik barely flinched, sidestepping Luigi's attempts with ease, his eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Luigi, my boy," Robotnik said, his tone dripping with mockery. "Where was this courage when your brother was under Bowser's control? Did you ever truly try to save him, or were you too afraid?"
Luigi felt his chest tighten, his mind flashing back to the helplessness of that day. Bowser, Mario… His hands shook, and for a moment, he was trapped in the memory, unable to breathe. The sounds around him dulled as Robotnik's taunts echoed painfully, layering over memories of Bowser's laughter, of Mario's final moments.
Robotnik shook his head, almost pityingly. "Still, I respect you for trying to fight now. It's more than I can say for most. How about a place in the new world I'm building? Once I've combined the Master Emerald with the Power Star, of course."
Luigi's eyes hardened, and he gripped the Poltergust tightly. "No. I won't join you."
Robotnik sighed dramatically, as if disappointed. "Pity. But I can't have you getting in the way, either." He raised a hand, and one of the drones floated closer, its mechanical claws extending toward Luigi.
"Goodbye, Luigi," Robotnik sneered, savoring the control. The drone's claws clamped around Luigi's arms, and with a whirring hum, it shoved him through the portal.
The portal snapped shut, leaving Rosalina and Daisy staring in horror. Robotnik turned back to them, his smirk never fading. "Now, ladies, I'll need you to take me to the Power Star, or I will tear this Observatory apart piece by piece."
Daisy stepped forward, her hands clenched into fists, ready to fight. "Over my dead body."
Rosalina gently placed a hand on Daisy's shoulder, stopping her. "No. We will take him to the Power Star."
Daisy looked at Rosalina in shock, but the cosmic princess's eyes were filled with sadness, not fear. "Trust me," Rosalina whispered. "It's the only way."
They led Robotnik to the core of the Comet Observatory, where the Power Star rested, its radiant light powering the entire station. The room was filled with its warm glow, a stark contrast to the cold steel of Robotnik's machines.
"Here we are," Rosalina said, her voice calm but firm. "The Power Star."
Robotnik's eyes gleamed with greed. "Good. Now, hand it over."
Rosalina turned to Daisy, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry for what I'm about to do."
Daisy's eyes widened. "What are you—"
Rosalina didn't wait. She closed her eyes, bringing her arms to her chest, her body trembling as she began to channel energy. The air around her crackled with power, the room growing unbearably bright. Her entire being glowed with a radiant light as she reached deep into the core of the Observatory, pulling on the very essence of the Power Star.
The energy built and built, and for a moment, it seemed like the Observatory might tear itself apart under the strain. The air was heavy, crackling with the tension of immense power being drawn to a single point. Rosalina's body glowed brighter, almost blindingly so, as she channeled all her strength into a final, desperate act.
Her hands shook, her face strained with effort, and the room began to tremble, the walls reverberating as if responding to the Power Star's struggle. Daisy could feel the raw energy surging around them, wild and uncontained, like a storm about to break. The warmth of the Power Star's glow turned searing hot, almost painful, as Rosalina's voice broke the silence.
"Forgive me," she whispered, her words barely audible over the hum of power.
Then, with a scream that seemed to carry the weight of the entire cosmos, Rosalina threw her arms wide. The Power Star shattered, bursting into millions of tiny fragments, each piece scattering like stardust across the room. The light was snuffed out, plunging the core into darkness as the shards dissolved, leaving nothing behind but a chilling emptiness.
The Observatory went silent. The hum of its engines ceased, and the soft light of the Lumas dimmed to nothing as they scattered in every direction, fleeing into the void. Rosalina staggered, her feet touching the ground for the first time, no longer suspended in her usual graceful hover. She looked weak, her movements slow and unsteady, as if the very essence that connected her to the stars had vanished. The once-great Comet Observatory was now a lifeless shell, adrift and powerless in the vast expanse of space.
Robotnik's face twisted with rage, his eyes burning with fury. "You... you insolent—"
With a cold smile, he motioned to one of his drones. The hovering machine extended its claws, grabbing Rosalina by the arm and raising her off the ground. "A fitting end for a cosmic princess," he sneered, watching as the drone's grip released her, letting her drop to the lower platform. Daisy watched, horror-stricken, as Rosalina's body hit the ground with a sickening thud.
"No!" Daisy screamed, her voice raw and desperate. She ran toward Robotnik, fury blazing in her eyes, but before she could reach him, another drone swooped down, its claws extending to pin her to the floor.
"Do you think this changes anything?" he sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "I know there's another Power Star hidden in Peach's castle. I will tear it from the ground, rip apart its foundations, and drag that Power Star out of the rubble myself. You've only made it worse."
His words hung in the air, heavy with a promise of devastation. Daisy's heart pounded, fear and anger clashing within her as she tried to push herself up, but the drone's metal claws pressed her back down, cold and unyielding. Robotnik leaned in close, his smirk widening. "Your little act of defiance will cost more than you can imagine."
With a cruel laugh, Robotnik stepped back, the drone releasing Daisy as she struggled on the ground. He turned, walking away as if nothing had happened, his steps echoing in the now-silent core. The glow of the Observatory was gone, its beauty snuffed out, and with it, a piece of the hope that had kept the galaxy safe.
Daisy forced herself to her feet, stumbling down to the lower platform where Rosalina had fallen. Her hands shook as she knelt beside her, gently lifting Rosalina's head. She could barely breathe, her heart aching as she saw the stillness in her friend's eyes.
"Rosalina, please..." Daisy whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Please, wake up."
Rosalina's eyes fluttered open, the glow in them faint and flickering, as if the light of the cosmos within her was struggling to stay alive. Her lips curled into a weak, almost apologetic smile. "I'm... sorry, Daisy," she murmured, her voice faint. "I couldn't... let him have it."
Her eyes closed again, but this time she was still breathing, though each breath was shallow and labored. Daisy clung to her, her heart pounding as she listened to the faint rise and fall of Rosalina's chest, desperate to hold on to that small sign of life.
"Stay with me," Daisy pleaded, her voice breaking. "Please, don't leave me."
Rosalina remained unconscious, her body limp and fragile in Daisy's arms. The tears flowed freely, her mind reeling with the weight of what had just happened, of what it meant. Daisy's grip tightened, as if sheer willpower alone could keep Rosalina anchored to life.
She looked up, staring into the dark, empty space where the Power Star had once shone so brightly. "No..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "No, this can't be how it ends."
But the Observatory was silent, its light extinguished, and in that moment, Daisy felt the full, crushing weight of despair. The Comet Observatory, a beacon of hope, had fallen. And the dark tide that followed was coming for them all.