Chapter Six: Star Light, Star Bright, Shiniest Star I see Tonight, Use Your Starry Powers to Lay Waste to my Enemies! And Stuff…
The Mario Bros. pop out of the vacuum-like tube in a ship of some kind.
Luigi: Where are we? And where’s the princess?
Stuffwell pops up as he often does.
Stuffwell: I believe you are on the Shroob Mothership!
Luigi: Why?
Stuffwell: Well… that sign says Shroob Mothership over there.
He gestures to a sign that indeed says that.
Luigi: That’s great…but why is there a sign in English… if we’re on a Shroob ship?
Stuffwell: Eh… maybe it’s required by law to have signs in a different language so foreigners can read them.
Luigi: Right… Let’s just find the princess. I don’t know how we got separated from her… We were in the same tube-
Stuffwell: The magic of alien technology!
Luigi: How can technology be magical?
Stuffwell: Ack! Logic! The thing I fear most! Bye!
Stuffwell disappears again.
Luigi: Well… let’s get going.
Mario: Woohoo!
They begin their journey through the
mothership. Soon, however, they run into four white Shroobs with blue spots
(Guardian Shroobs). Upon seeing the Bros. they instantly pull out their
ray guns and begin blasting. The Bros. duck behind some machinery.
Luigi: Geez! What happened to checking ID and stuff?
Mario looks at Baby Luigi and they nod, almost as though they have communicated… Mario gets right behind Luigi, and Baby Luigi jumps off and gets behind Baby Mario.
Luigi: I think they let up… HEY!
Mario grabs Luigi and throws him at two of the Guardians. They are immediately taken out of the fight. One of the two remaining starts to charge when Baby Luigi throws Baby Mario at him with impressive accuracy, also knocking him out. The remaining Guardian decides it might be a good idea to run, so he does. Luigi shakily gets up.
Luigi: Ow… While I admit it worked, was it really necessary to throw me and the baby you?
Mario: Okeydokey!
Luigi: You know my baby self acts like you: cruel; and your baby self acts like me… weird. Can I take Baby Mario-
Baby Luigi: NO!
Baby Luigi bites Luigi’s leg.
Luigi: OW! Okay! I’ll take you!
After getting the babies on their backs the Bros. head out again, following the way the Guardian went, figuring it would take them to the princess. Eventually they reach a large chamber. As soon as they go in though the door slams shut, locking them in. Another door opens up and Princess Peach walks out… STILL with the Mushroom on her face.
Luigi: Great… the princess! Let’s get out of…
“Peach” pulls the Mushroom up… revealing that she isn’t Peach at all! She is really Princess Shroob!
Princess Shroob: *creepy alien laughter*
Luigi: What?! You mean all this time… it was really Princess Shroob?! Well… if I knew that I wouldn’t have bothered to rescue her from Bowser then.
Mario: YA!
Mario looks pretty angry and is about to attack Princess Shroob when eight Shroobs pour in all with their guns trained on the Bros.
Luigi: Uh… maybe we shouldn’t move-
Kylie: I’m here!
Kylie comes skidding in and runs into three of the Shroobs.
Princess Shroob: *^*&%%$E%*%^^&%*%?!
Luigi: Uh, thanks, but we gotta get out of here!
The Bros. and Kylie smash past the distracted Shroobs into the next room. They then destroy the control panel, causing the door to close.
Luigi: Well that should keep them busy for a minute. Let’s get down to business. Kylie, what are doing on this ship?! And how’d you get here?!
Kylie: Chill! I’m here for an awesome story! Imagine the headline…Shroob Princess, travels forward in time to figure out how to capture the Mushroom Kingdom of the future!
Luigi: But if she conquers this one… then she’ll eventually have the future one too… But if that was true then we wouldn’t be here… and OH I HATE TIME TRAVELING!
Kylie: You time travel?
Luigi: You didn’t know? But… the headline!
Kylie: Oh… that. Well… I don’t know WHAT I say half the time! Ha ha!
Luigi: Right… Wait, you didn’t say how you got here…
Kylie: A reporter goes where she is needed!
Luigi: Still didn’t answer my… Oh who cares…
The door starts to bubble and shake.
Luigi: Shoot! They’re trying to shoot the door down! Let’s go!
They run deeper into the ship until they come to a dead end computer console thing.
Luigi: Great. We’re trapped. We’ll probably have to fight our way out.
Kylie: Or I could hit a bunch of buttons!
Luigi: Or you could hit a bunch of… NO! You don’t know what those DO!
Kylie slams her palm on the Shroob keyboard. The floor opens up underneath them.
Kylie: Whoops.
They plummet through the hole and fall out through the bottom of the ship. The hatch goes back and covers up the hole just as the princess and her escorts come rushing in.
Princess Shroob: *^*(^%&*%^%(*^(^!
Apparently deciding not to chase them, she has the ship turn around… Looks like they’re heading for Shroob Castle… Suddenly there is the sound of glass breaking and Baby Bowser lands right in the middle of the Shroobs. Yes, he DID land on the mothership after being pushed off the Thwomp. After a shocked second the Shroobs pull out their guns and train them on Baby Bowser.
Baby Bowser: Uh oh… What to do… What to do… Uh... I’m not here! You can’t see me!
After a second the Shroobs put away their guns. After all… no one was there.
Baby Bowser: Wow… didn’t expect THAT to work. Now… to hide!
He dashes behind some machinery and hopes that they won’t, like… find and blast him or something…
Meanwhile, in the ruined Toad Town…
Mario, Luigi, and their baby selves landed on a purple mushroom from Toad Town of the past, so they emerged from their humongous fall unharmed. The once prosperous Toad Town has apparently been attacked by the Shroobs as all of the houses are in ruins, all the Toads are gone and purple Mushrooms are growing everywhere.
Luigi: Yikes… Yet another place ravaged by the Shroobs. These guys are worse than I thought… Hey, where’s Kylie? She fell with us-
Luigi sees a flash of movement, before whatever it was ducks inside one of the slightly less ruined houses.
Luigi: Perhaps… a survivor?
The Bros. go in the house, which apparently used to be some kind of shop as at the end of it is a counter. Huddling behind the counter are two aged, female Toads. Luigi and Mario walk over to the counter.
Luigi: Hello?
At the sound of his voice they jump up so fast that Mario and Luigi take a step back. The two Toads then dash forward until they are right at the counter, by the two cash registers.
Gramma 1: Welcome to Gramma’s Place! Named after me… Gramma!
The second Toad seems angry and says, a little louder…
Gramma 2: I’m Gramma! It’s named after me!
Gramma 1: No me!
Gramma 2: Don’t make me scold you!
Gramma 1: I’m the scolder! RAR!
Luigi: Woah! Chill… Ssettle this later. What’s going on? I mean the Shroobs obviously attacked but where is everyone?
Gramma 2: Oh… well the Shroobs captured them. They missed us ‘cause we hid behind the counter!
Luigi: And they didn’t find you?
Gramma 1: Nope! Although, in order to make sure no one swooped in and took the Town back they left behind a robot thing and some other creatures.
Luigi: Great. We’re looking for Cobalt Star Shards… Do you know where one could be?
Gramma 2: Oh well… There is a Star Temple… You can get there through Star Hill, and there’s a warp pipe there at the other end of the Town.
Luigi: Thanks! We’ll go now.
Gramma 1: Oh wait… Please… can you buy some stuff?
Luigi: Uh… no, not now.
Gramma 2: We helped you and this is how you repay us?! By not giving us money?!
Luigi: Sorry, but-
Gramma 1: We scold you!
Gramma 2: Yes, SCOLD! Bad, bad kitty!
Luigi: I’m not a kitty-
Gramma 1: I am the one who scolds!
Gramma 2: No I AM!
Gramma 1: Gramma fight!
They charge each other and start slapping.
Luigi: Let’s get out of here.
Mario runs out. Luigi lingers for a second, but also runs when they start attacking each other with the cash registers.
Luigi: I am really starting to not like the people who live in either the past or the present.
Mario: Mamamia!
Luigi: That includes you.
Mario: OH NOOOOOO!
Mario smacks Luigi.
Luigi: OW! Still not liking you.
The Mario Bros. start hiking through the wreckage of Toad Town. After a while they suddenly bump into a robotic Shroid, a gray creature shaped like a Shroob with yellow spots and green eyes. It immediately pulls out one green and one red flag.
Luigi: What?
The Shroid waits for a second, as if expecting a reaction, and when it doesn’t get one it throws the two METAL flags at the Bros. Mario dodges the one thrown at him as he is cool, but Luigi wasn’t expecting an attack and is knocked down. Mario rolls over and tries to attack the Shroid, but it just bolts away super fast like all poorly made robots can. It then raises its hand. A strange sound comes from it.
Luigi: Ow… Why is it playing a game with flags?
He shakily got up when a Shroob Saucer flies overhead carrying a big, spiked ball with an L on it.
Luigi: Oh, this can’t be good… ACK!
He jumps away as it dropped to the ground. Mario rushes the Shroid and tries to hit it with his hammer, but it throws a strange, translucent yellow crystal at him and Luigi. It expands, trapping the Bros, which of course… makes completely no sense if it expanded… it would have to be like liquid for them to go in… and then… oh, this is almost as confusing as time travel!
Luigi: Oh… dear…
The Shroid changes one hand into a gun and starts charging it. Mario and Luigi frantically hop to escape from their crystal prison when it shoots its blast at Luigi. Fortunately the crystal absorbs most of it and explodes, sending Luigi flying like a small muffin. Mario still struggles to get out as the Shroid pulls a green flag out.
Luigi: Oh no you don’t! I am not getting hit again!
He jumps backwards. The Shroid nods its head once… and then explodes. Mario bursts free from the crystal.
Luigi: What’d I do? How’d that happen?
Mario: Grr…
Luigi: What… Oh, you’re just mad I killed something and you were trapped in the crystal!
Mario nods.
Luigi: Well that must have been the robot the Grammas were talking about. Let’s just keep going…
They continue through the ruined Town until they are confronted yet again by enemies, two of them in fact: a Skellokey, which is a skeletal Pokey, and a Love Bubble, which is a pink, ball-like creature with tiny arms and legs, as well as X’s for eyes. The two creatures stand menacingly in front of the heroes.
Luigi: Could we like… not fight?
Before anyone else can move the Love Bubble suddenly runs into the Skellokey and starts shooting off love vibes.
Skellokey: ?!
Love Bubble: So full of hate, you Skellokey… I love you!
Eventually the Skellokey can’t take anymore and explodes. The Love Bubble smiles and flies off skipping. (Yes, fly-skipping. Don’t ask how that’s possible as I have no clue but the Love Bubble still does it.)
Luigi: Well…that was kind of nice after the Shroid… but also kind of creepy. Let’s just get to Star Hill and get out of here!
It doesn’t take them much longer to reach a warp pipe. They hop in and it takes them to… Star Hill! Star Hill is a large hill covered with shiny star rocks. It has a twisty path leading to the top, and according to the Grammas at the top will be a path to the Star Temple, which contains at least one Star Shard. The Bros. start hiking up the magical shiny star land thing… at least until a Shy Guy with a propeller on its head (a Fly Guy) flies overhead and starts dropping bombs. The Mario Bros. quickly dodgedtwo of them. One explodes, while the other doesn’t.
Luigi: Why can’t things just be all nice and kind and stuff?!
The Fly Guy drops two more bombs that are shaped like balls with some spikes on them. Most have numbers on them, and they don’t explode until the number ticks down. Luigi picks up one that has a one on it, preparing to throw it at the Fly Guy, when Baby Luigi pulls on his hair as babies do.
Luigi: OW! Stop!
He lets go of the bomb and it hits the ground. The timer goes to zero… and then explodes. Both Luigis are sent flying but Adult Luigi absorbs most of the blast so Baby Luigi is unharmed. Mario grabs a bomb that has a two and throws it, but the Fly Guy bounces it back, causing it to be a one. Mario jumps back as it explodes right where he was.
Luigi: We’ll have to get one he can’t bounce back…
The Fly Guy throws a two down; Luigi catches it, making it a one.
Luigi: Bounce this back!
Luigi throws it up and… the Fly Guy fliesw to the side of it. It flies up unhindered… then comes plummeting back straight down.
Luigi: Oh… dear…
He rolls to the side as it booms at his feet. The Fly Guy seems overcome with silent giggles… until Mario hits him with a one. It explodes and the Fly Guy is sent flying.
Luigi: Wow… uh, thanks. Let’s keep going!
Luigi starts walking, but Mario stays put. He looks at Luigi expectantly. Luigi turns around.
Luigi: What? Oh… fine. Yes, you are a great hero and just being trapped in that crystal while I killed something doesn’t make me any cooler. Are you happy now? Can we keep going?
Mario smiles and together they head up the hill. As they near the top Luigi sees a puddle of blackness.
Luigi: Well… that’s weird.
Suddenly a cardboard sign with a picture of a Goomba on it emerges.
Luigi: Eh?
The Goomba sign is then flung at the Bros. Luigi catches it, and looks at it confusion.
Luigi: What is this?
Suddenly a black hand (Handfake) emerges. It pulls out a Koopa Paratroopa sign which it rolls at them. Mario catches it.
Luigi: Is this like… a puppet show?
The Handfake then pulls out a Bob-omb sign.
Luigi: Now what?
The Handfake tosses the sign at Luigi, who sticks out the Goomba sign, hoping to have it land on that. As soon as contact is made the Bob-omb sign explodes, destroying both signs.
Luigi: Uh… oh.
The Handfake then takes out a BIG Bowser sign. It gestures and Mario prepares for it to be thrown. What he didn’t prepare for is a Boo to fly overhead holding a cardboard flame. It flings the flame at Mario. Mario bats it with the Koopa sign, causing the Koopa to crumble and the flame to hit the Bowser sign, causing it to crumble. The Handfake, incredibly upset that all of its lovingly handcrafted signs were destroyed, runs away.
Luigi: Is it just me… or are enemies getting weirder?
Mario: WHEE!
Luigi: Yet another incoherent response from my brother. Move on.
They keep going and are just about to reach the top when they see a slightly larger than normal red Shroob with yellow spots and a large black mustache (Commander Shroob). He’s apparently talking to a bunch of purple Shroobs with white spots (Support Shroobs).
Luigi: Shoot… They’re probably trying to reach the Star Temple as well...
At the sound of his voice the Commander Shroob spins around.
Commander Shroob: *^&^*%*(%*(%^%^&#*%&(&^!
Luigi: Uh… Hi… Can we pass?
The Commander Shroob sends three Support Shroobs forward carrying an enormous, purple Shroob-omb with red eyes.
Luigi: I guess not.
The Support Shroobs throw the Shroob-omb at Mario, who somehow hammers it back even though the creature is easily five times his size. The Support Shroobs freak when they see it coming for them and bolt. The Shroob-omb hits Commander Shroob and explodes on him, causing him major pain. The Commander then starts grabbing Support Shroobs and throwing them at the Bros.
Luigi: What kind of crazy tactic is that? Oh wait… It’s the one we used on the mothership- AGH!
He rolls away from the falling aliens. Mario effortlessly bats them away with the hammer while Luigi struggles to roll and run. Eventually, not looking where he is going, he runs into the Commander Shroob. They both fall down.
Luigi: Ow. Heym what the?
The Commander Shroob is crying. Apparently the big bad Luigi beat him up. The Support Shroobs grab him and give Luigi a glare before running away.
Luigi: I’m sorry?
Mario walks over to Luigi. Luigi hops to his feet.
Luigi: Well… I guess we can go to the Star Temple now… so let’s go!
The Bros. ascend the last bit of the way and reach… the top of Star Hill. The top of the hill is a large, horizontal star rock. Sticking out of three of the points are tall star pillars. The four hero people go to the center of the rock.
Luigi: We’re here and it’s all pretty and starry… but there is no Shard here-
The three Cobalt Star Shards they have collected suddenly appear and fly up.
Luigi: What?
They glow with all kinds of pretty light show glowy things and a transparent star person with eyes and a mouth and a big, floppy, pink ribbon appears.
Luigi: What is that?
Star Sprite: I am a Star Sprite. I am the spirit of the Star and you must collect two more Shards in order to get into Shroob Castle-
Luigi: Yeah… well we figured we’d need more.
Star Sprite: My sist- I mean Princess Shroob is very powerful so-
Luigi: Shut up.
Star Sprite: FINE, HUMAN! I was going to tell you to take that shiny path over there… but now I don’t like you so I won’t!
The Sprite disappears and Mario grabs the Shards again.
Luigi: But you did tell us… Oh forget it. Even mystical spirits are brainless. Let’s go!
The Mario Bros. find a shiny pathway to the right of the entrance and they go across it. Eventually it takes them to a warp pipe.
Luigi: I’m guessing that leads to the Star Temple… so… let’s go!
They jump into the warp pipe. It takes them to a yellow rock thing, seemingly floating in space or something while connected to other rock islands through long, shiny, translucent paths.
Luigi: Weird. Anyways, I hope this is the place with the Shards!
They walk a bit through the strange, shiny pathways until a large, yellow star thing blocks the way forward. It almost seems to be a gateway. Mario and Luigi walk up to it… and it grows a face!
Star Gate: Why have you come?
Luigi: ACK! Talking star gate thing!
Star Gate: What is your business here?
Luigi: Well… uh… we want to go the Star Temple… Are we there?
Star Gate: Of course not! If you want to go there you must go by me!
Luigi: Oh… uh… Can you, like, attack us or something?
Star Gate: Not physically, no…but I can really hurt your feelings!
Luigi: Great. So… can we pass?
Star Gate: Not until I measure your worth by determining what your hearts are like. COME FORTH!
He calls both Mario and Luigi forward. They walk up to the Star Gate.
Star Gate: Hmmm… Using my mystical sensing powers I determine both your hearts are quite similar!
Luigi: What?! How can Mario and I be alike?
Star Gate: Well… both of your hearts are squishy and seem to be doing a fine job of letting blood flow through your body.
Mario and Luigi stare speechlessly at the Star Gate.
Star Gate: What? Is it something I said?
Luigi: I think you’re supposed to see our character, not our actual physical hearts!
Star Gate: Oh… heh… It’s been a while since I’ve done this… Let me try that then.
The Star Gate closes its eyes and makes various hums and haws until after 34.673 seconds it opens its eyes.
Star Gate: Okay… The babies can pass because they are small and I don’t want them to cry, and the red one can pass… but you… Greenie can not pass!
Luigi: What?! Why?
Star Gate: Well the red one, Mario, is violent and petty, a heroic mix! While you… Luigi are cautious and intelligent! Obviously bad news!
Luigi: Okay… Your logic is seriously flawed-
Star Gate: NO! Not the L word!
Luigi: What? Logic?
Star Gate: AGH! It burns! It burns! Fine… If you complete one task… and stop saying that word I’ll let you pass.
Luigi: What task?
Star Gate: Defeat… these enemies!
Two dark red blocks and a light blue block thing with faces appear (Wonder Thwacks) along with a large spherical mass of what appears to be mini warp pipes (Piranha Planet).
Luigi: Fighting?! AGH!
He ducks as the blue Wonder Thwack flings itself at him. The red ones fly at Mario. He batsthem away with the hammer. They fall back. The floating mass of micro warp pipes doesn’t do anything.
Luigi: What is that?!
Suddenly a Piranha Plant with an astronaut-style helmet globe thing on its head pops out of one of the pipes.
Luigi: Okay… Not only is that really strange… but there’s no way its head could fit through those little pipes.
It sticks a vine through another pipe. The vine is holding a ray gun!
Luigi: Great… Now even plants are equipped with high-tech weaponry.
It shoots off several blasts. But being a plant lacking eyes, its aim is poor and instead it destroys the Wonder Thwacks. Mario then dashes up and hits the bizarre thing with his hammer. It explodes in a ridiculously large explosion that somehow causes no damage to the surrounding area.
Star Gate: Uh… You can pass!
He disappears, allowing the Mario Bros. access to ANOTHER warp pipe.
Luigi: This is getting kind of boring. All these warp pipes. Oh… well… If it’s the ONLY way to travel… excluding being ejected from alien spaceships and being caught in unrealistically large yet not pain causing explosions.
The Bros. hop into the pipe. It takes them to another set of floating islands connected by sparkly pathways. However, these are in the shape of a star. In the center of the star is another small island with a warp pipe on it.
Luigi: ANOTHER WARP PIPE?! That’s like… four in a row! I bet we have to solve a series of complicated puzzles to reach it-AGH!
Mario grabs Luigi and throws him across the gap. Mario then jumps over. The Babies remain unharmed.
Luigi: Well… I guess that works too… But you could have let me jump! I mean… that was just mean.
Mario: Woohoo!
Luigi: You don’t have to sound so excited about it.
The Mario Bros. enter the (hopefully) final warp pipe and are taken to the Star Temple… for real this time! It takes them to a large, shiny, temple-like place. They wander for a bit until they see a Cobalt Star Shard lying on the ground.
Luigi: Well… that was frighteningly easy.
Mario grabs it and puts it with the other three… Now they have four! Toadbert and Kylie suddenly run in from another room.
Toadbert: I regained my memory!
Kylie: Hi guys!
Luigi: What? How did you guys get here?!
Toadbert: Plot device.
Kylie: I’m a journalist!
Luigi: Right… So Toadbert… you remember what happened?
Toadbert: Yes… and I have… a Cobalt Star Shard!
He pulls out the fifth and final piece that they need.
Luigi: Where’d that come from?!
Toadbert: My pocket.
Luigi: Well give it!
Toadbert: NO! It’s shiny! I want it! It makes me feel… like I’m holding something shiny!
Luigi: But we need it! Give it here!
Toadbert: I escape!
Toadbert dashes away.
Kylie: Cool! A story!
She follows him.
Luigi: Well… that was pointless. Let’s get him!
Mario and Luigi chase after Toadbert. He is far ahead of them and they despair of ever catching up… until they hear the scream.
Toadbert: No! Give it back!
Kylie: Ack! It’s so red!
Luigi: Sounds like they ran into something!
The Bros. go into the next room. They see Kylie and Toadbert huddling on the ground near a red creature similar to the Junior Shrooboid they battled in the beginning of this adventure, only it has red spikes on its head (Elder Shrooboid). The creature is making strange noises at them while it holds the Shard.
Kylie: What a story this’ll be!
Toadbert: NO! It is shiny so it must be important! GIVE IT BACK!
Toadbert tries to attack the creature but the Elder Shrooboid somehow summons lightning bolts which blasted the weakened Toadbert and Kylie, turning them into purple Mushrooms!
Luigi: That can’t be good!
Mario: Hi-YAAA!
Mario jumps at the Elder Shrooboid from behind, causing it to stumble. It quickly regains its balance and spins around, and shoots several fireballs at Mario. He jumps over them and they harmlessly impact the wall.
Luigi: I’m guessing I should probably help…
Baby Luigi: YEAH!
Luigi: Well… at least you can some words right- OW!
Baby Luigi hit Luigi with his hammer.
Luigi: I’m going!
Luigi runs over and punches the red creature. It absorbs the blow without reacting and pulls out a large, metal ball on a chain.
Luigi: Oh… dear.
The Elder Shrooboid then tosses two yellow crystal things, similar to the ones the Shroid used. Mario and Luigi roll to the side and they miss. This causes the Elder Shrooboid to become quite upset and it throws its ball at Mario. Mario smacks it with his hammer and it goes flying back, hitting the creature. The Elder Shrooboid seems to be unsteady and about to fall over…
Luigi: I think we won-
The creature seems to regain its balance… and it grows… Soon it towers over the Bros.
Luigi: Not good!
The Elder Shrooboid opens its mouth and… a Shroob Saucer flies out.
Luigi: Huh?
The saucer flies over the Bros, just out of reach, and extends a timer on a screen. It says four.
Luigi: I have a feeling something bad will happen when it reaches zero… and how did that fit in that thing?! That defies so many laws of physics and just plain defies nature!
The timer goes to three.
Luigi: Shoot.
The Elder Shrooboid creates more, larger fireballs and tosses them at the Bros. They dodge and rolled but the saucer stayed over them. The timer goes to two. The Elder Shrooboid then summons a BIG spiked ball and throws it. Mario hits it with the hammer, and at first it appeared as if it would keep on going and crush him… until it rockets back and hits the Elder Shrooboid. It falls over and the timer goes to one.
Luigi: Now! Let’s jump on it while it can’t defend itself!
Both Bros. run over and jump on the Elder Shrooboid while it is on the ground. It moans and groans but is unable to retaliate. The saucer stays over the Bros. The timer goes to zero… and it charges up a massive laser blast. Luigi ferociously jumps on the alien, unaware of his impending doom.
Luigi: Throw fireballs at me, will you?! You big, bad alien thing! I just want this “adventure” to end! AGH!
Mario: OH NOOOO!
Mario sees the saucer about to blast them andg rabs his brother and throws him off the alien. He then jumps off. The saucer then releases its blast… utterly annihilating the Elder Shrooboid. The saucer driver, realizing his horrible mistake, explodes in penance. After the smoke clears the Cobalt Star Shard shines, completely unharmed.
Luigi: Thanks, Mario… Hey! The Shard’s okay! What are those things made of?!
Mario grabs the fifth piece, almost completing the star except for a central piece.
Luigi: Well… I think that is enough to get inside the Shroob Castle… so let’s go!
They go into a nearby room and find a conveniently placed Time Hole which they jump in… The final battle shall begin soon!