Chapter Three.
Theodore and Starry came out of the pipe and ran out of the town with a crowd of frightened Toads, as they ran more pods crash landed around them. "Keep going!" Theodore cried, as they all kept running. When suddenly a pod crashed in front of them making everyone stop. The pod then opened and out rushed more mind-controlled guards who aimed their weapons at them. "Hold it right there!" The lead Star toad guard replied, as Theodore and the other Toads frightfully stared. Just then a sparkling light blue dust floated down onto the Mind-controlled guards and their red eyes returned to normal. "Huh? What? What happened?" The lead guard asked, as he and the other guards stood confused. Theodore and the other toads were also confused. Theodore then saw a light blue star floating above the guards. "Guardsmen!" She said, floating down and changed back into Starry. "Starry?" Theodore said. "Escorts these Toads deep into the forest, Lady Venetia is attacking!" Starry said. "Yes Ma'am!" The lead Star toad guards said, saluting. Then led the group of Toads out of the town and into the Mushroom Forest. "Theodore, hold on tight!" Starry said. "Hold on?" Theodore said, as Starry changed into a star again, grabbed him, and flew into the air!" Theodore screamed out as they flew deep into the Mushroom Forest.
Luigi flew through a part of town. "We're under attack, evacuate the town!" He warned them. He then headed to the castle. As he flew, he couldn't help but look back and think of Mario and didn't see the group of stars hovering in front of him until it was too late. Luigi screamed and tried to come to a halt when they attacked him and made him lose his power up. "Mario!" He cried, falling. He then did his fancy landing and jumping to land safely on the ground. Luigi picked up his hat and put it back on. "Phew!" He said, looking around and saw he was caught.
Mario flew up to the landing dock and landed. He skill-fully took out the guards. Then he turned his attention to the dock doors. Which opened slowly and out came Venetia, Ivar and several guards. "Aw, you must be Mario!" she said. "Are you Lady Venetia?" Mario asked. "I am, the new ruler of the Starlight kingdom and soon to be the new ruler of this Kingdom as well!" Venetia said. "I don't think so Lady, this kingdom only has one ruler, and that ruler happens to be Princess Peach!" Mario said. "Not for long!" Venetia said, about to move when Mario angrily blocked her. "I won't let hurt the Princess!" Mario said, angrily. "I see and how do you intend to stop me?" She asked snapping her fingers that echoed loudly. "I'll stop you!" Mario said, trying to move only to realize he couldn't. Mario tried hard to move then he saw why he wasn't moving. He was slowly turning to stone. Mario gasped in shock, as Venetia evilly grins at him. "What? What have you done?" Mario asked, slowly turning to stone. "Oh that, oh silly me, I forgot to mention about one of my special powers. The ability to turn living things into stone!" Venetia said, watching Mario's neck and head slowly turn to stone. "But don't worry your Princess will soon join you as a beautiful statue. Bye, bye now!" She said, as Mario finished turning to stone. "Well, that was fun!" Venetia said. "Congrats my lady!" Ivar said. "Prepare to land near the castle!" Venetia ordered. "Yes, my lady!" Ivar said, rushing off. "What about him your ladyship!" A guard asked. "Hum. Take him to the nearest lake and drop him in!" She ordered. "Yes, my lady!" he said, bowing. Then he and several other solders pick up the stone Mario and carried him away.
Theodore and Starry flew to the lake and landed near the water. Theodore took a second to catch his breath and looked at Starry who was in her star form. A star, she can turn into a star!" He said, in shock. "Of course, I can, I'm a Star toad!" She said, changing back. Starry looked back at the castle and saw that Venetia's ship was almost to the castle. Starry sadly sighed.
Back at the Castle Toadworth, Toad and Peach kept watching the ship coming at them. "It's still advancing Princess. Something must have happened to Master Mario and Master Luigi!" Toadworth said. "Captain Wally, gather your troops and meet me outside!" Peach ordered. "Yes Princess!" Wally said, rushing out. You two get away from here as fast as you can!" Peach said. "No Princess, I'm not leaving you!" Toadworth said. "And neither am I!" Toad said, bringing out his frying pan. Just as huge shadow covered the windows and the castle shook. Outside Captain Wally and his soldiers waited for Peach, Toad and Toadworth to join them. As the huge ship began to land, Peach, Toad and Toadworth came outside just as the ship finished landing in front of them. They waited a while then the dock door opened and out came a sparkling red dust. "What? What is this stuff? Wally said, as the dust covered them, and they all coughed. Suddenly Captain Wally and troops eyes turned red, and they turned towards Peach, Toad and Toadworth and aimed their weapons at them. "Captain? What are you doing? Peach asked, getting surrounded. "Something is wrong with them Princess, look at their eyes. Someone is controlling them!" Toad said. "Indeed, there is!" a voice said, from inside the ship. As Lady Venetia and Ivar came out and the soldiers came to attention as they came down the ramp. "I control your troops now!" Venetia said, signaling them to bring the Princess to her. The soldiers separated Peach from Toad and Toadworth. "Princess!" Toadworth cried, being held back. The soldiers brought Peach in front of Venetia. "Lady Venetia!" Peach said. "Princess Peach, So, you heard of me, then you know why I've come!" Venetia said, as Peach stared at her with angry eyes. Venetia then walked up to Peach and touched her chin and looked at her face. "What a pretty thing you are!" she said, still holding Peach's face. "You'll make a beautiful statue for my new throne room!" Venetia said, laughing. "I don't think so Lady!" Peach said, tripping the soldiers then flipped back to the others. Toad hit a soldier with his frying pan. "Princess!" Toadworth cried, throwing a fire flower at her which she caught and powered up and melted the soldier's weapons, then charged towards Venetia who was being guarded by more soldiers. Venetia then snapped her fingers that echoed, and Peach suddenly came to a stop. "What?" She said, looking down at the bottom of her gown and saw it was already stone. Venetia gave her an evil look. "Foolish Princess did you really think you could defeat me. Even your heroes couldn't stop me!" Venetia said. "Mario, Luigi. What did you do to them?" Peach asked. As Venetia evilly grinned. "You will never know!" Venetia said, watching her turn to stone. "Princess, Princess no!" Toadworth cried, seeing her as a full statue. "Goodbye Princess Peach!" Venetia said, walking up to Toad and Toadworth. "As for you two, take them to the nearest mines with the others!" Venetia ordered. "Yes, my Lady, move it!" Wally ordered taking them from the castle grounds. While Venetia and Ivar walked to the castle, with the soldiers following behind.