Categories > Games > Mario > Journey
Chapter 10
0 ReviewsChapter 10
Chapter 10
The room's appearance was classic. A single light shone above the plain table, one chair located in front of it where the suspect sat, while the investigators paced around the room thinking of theories and asking questions. Altuvir wondered if it was really necessary.
"First of all," Peach began, "who are 'they' the people who want your sword?"
"The same who made me disappear before," Altuvir replied.
"Then why are you not disappearing now?" Bowser asked.
Altuvir wasn't sure if the king wanted him gone or if he wished to prevent his escape. "I did not mean to be teleported away that time. I made a wish to the Star Road to break my connection to those beings..."
"And those beings are?" Peach repeated her previous question.
"Stars, beings above the first layer of the Star Road, but not above its power. They are guardians assigned to certain territories." Altuvir observed Peach and Bowser trying to see if they had believed him. "I will tell you the entire story."
"When I was a small child I did not have anyone. I do not know what happened to my family. A star named Calipha took me in and trained me to act as a hero working in secret. My name is unknown here and even in my homeland few know about me, but the stars who see it all know the name of Altuvir."
"Calipha believes I should be honored by my role and should not seek anything more. There is another star being, Bit who oversees the territories from the eastern border of the Mushroom Kingdom all the way to the Barrel Volcano near Land's End. Calipha believed that Bit was not doing a good job, that she allowed the Star Road to shelter people too much and at the same time have too much freedom. But Bit argued that it was Calipha who was prying too much into people's lives."
"Bit's rules offer more support but less guidance, allowing people to learn at their own pace, make mistakes and recover from them. Calipha tries keeps a closer watch on people offering more guidance to prevent mistakes from happening and less support should they happen, thus letting that serve as an example of the consequences. Their styles are similar but different. Yet, it all balances out."
"Bit and Calipha are both up in ranks; however, because of the uniqueness of each wish that reaches the Star Road, there is a necessity to give them all careful consideration. With such diversity it would be impossible to set rules that would encompass all the needed guidelines for such large territories. Instead, both Bit and Calipha set some basic rules and the Star Road, which is divided into different departments to serve the wishes of each area, add another layer of rules in the smaller ramifications to address the most common wished known to that area. As they say, one's trash is another's treasure, and the worth of a wish varies greatly from person to person. One might find happiness in a wish that another would never even think of making."
"In the end, it results in those rules being so general that it is as if Bit and Calipha were not even there. Each wish is examined and evaluated by the Star Road, each star possessing a portion of the power that makes up the Star Road as a whole. Both Bit and Calipha are merely figureheads on the top, whose influence does not quite reach the bottom of the chain of command."
"Even so, each of them like most, if not all, living beings, has an opinion, and those opinions are different; not always exact opposites, but different. They are settling a meaningless disagreement with this bet. Calipha cannot decide your fates, but she believes that you should not be together. Bit, who cannot decide either for the choice is yours, believes you should remain together."
"Calipha will try to make you break up for the next year, and I who served Calipha was supposed to help. If the year passed and you are still together, then Bit would win the bet and my sword, as a trophy of her victory. If Calipha wins she will gain control of Bit's territories and apply her set of rules. However, the stars who do the real work in the Star Road will be the same, so it is likely that the change will barely be noticeable if at all."
"That is so inconsiderate and selfish!" Peach frowned; those stars had gone too far.
By now Bowser was fuming. "I'm going," he announced, "I'm going to the Star Road and knocking some since into those stars! Just who do they think they are betting on Peach and me? Calipha will pay!"
"I have left her side. Those of the Star Road know of what has happened and granted my wish. She can no longer call me at will; I am no property of Calipha anymore. My wish was freedom," Altuvir revealed.
"You shouldn't have been property to begin with." Peach remembered something, "but that doesn't give you the right to hurt people. That orange shy away, who was he?"
"Not a living being at all but a ghost. It was a Boo in disguise. I did not harm him, but merely returned him to his original shape. He was quite embarrassed and turned invisible then left." Altuvir revealed.
"I see, then it's clear what needs to be done," Peach looked determined.
"Right, we have to throw Calipha in the lava!" Bowser's idea was tempting, but Peach knew it wouldn't quite work out.
"First we have to find Calipha, or maybe Bit..." Peach considered the options. "We should talk to Bit first, then we'll see Calipha and try to have them call off the bet and never make such bets again. We could contact Elderstar as well, I'm sure he would disapprove of this bet and help us, but then, if most the stars in the Star Road know, then wouldn't he know as well? Can he not stop this?"
"Not really, with people making so many wishes everyday, the big stars in that department of the Star Road are probably swamped with work, and no one will share the latest gossip with an old star. That's why I didn't inform him," a small moment of silence passed.
Peach gave Altuvir a quizzical look, "you mean you could have?"
"Why didn't you try to fix this mess sooner?" Bowser yelled.
"I was trying to decide which was best for the world because the hero in the shadows role has been hammered into me for so long. You know, the entire sacrifice of the few for the masses? I wanted to know who was best to have in charge, Bit or Calipha and I wanted to help make it happen. Then I thought the decision should lie with the two of you, even if I knew right away what your choice would be. Also, while researching I realized how Bit and Calipha's influence was lots from one level of control to another."
"That still doesn't explain it," Bowser was not satisfied with the answer.
"I didn't want to be a tell tale." Cue the awkward silence and strange looks. "What? I'm sick of playing the goody-goody hero who doesn't even take credit and doesn't go on adventures just helping out with insignificant little things. I know it can mean a lot to those who receive the help but I'm sick of it, I want some credit, I want adventure, I want to stop being a goody-goody!"
"Well said!"
"Bowser!" Peach wasn't sure if she should stop Bowser from encouraging Altuvir's anti-hero rebellion, or if she should simply be amused by her husband's reaction to Altuvir's unexpected confession. "Either way, this is troublesome. We need to think of a way to find Bit and Calipha."
Kamek suddenly teleported into the room, "I found it!" He looked at Altuvir, Peach and Bowser. "This man is..."
"Never mind, just find a way to go to the Star Road, I need to go fry Calipha!" Bowser was getting impatient.
Kamek sighed in disappointment, "I worked so hard on this investigation and you already know. At least the spell I came up with will be useful. I can teleport us to Star Hill and from there, open a gateway to the Star Road!"
"Right, but let's talk to Bit first," she was the one betting that Peach and Bowser would stay together, so Peach thought she would be the most reasonable out of the two involved in the bet.
"I wish to go as well," Altuvir requested.
"Alright, we can all go," Peach agreed.
Kamek teleported them to Star Hill and got ready to cast his spell.
"No that's not right!" An unknown voice echoed. "Use the power of love!"
"That's Bit's voice!" Altuvir recognized her.
Bit giggled, "If you use the power of love I'll go over there so you won't have to come all the way here!"
"The power of love?" Kamek echoed, "what does that mean?"
"A kiss, I believe," Altuvir replied, "Bit likes the two of you as a couple, she's watching and wants to see you kiss."
"Make it a long one!" Bit's voice echoed.
"This Bit star isn't so bad," maybe this time Bowser could be a little more forgiving as Peach as he should be. But Calipha was still in trouble. "Peachy?"
"This isn't a show but it's alright, just one last time," Peach agreed.
"One last time?" Bowser didn't like the sound of that.
"I mean one last time in public," Peach clarified. The king and queen kissed while Altuvir, Kamek and Bit watched silently. Several minutes passed and the kiss continued becoming more passionate and loving as the seconds went by, until Peach ended it. "I almost forgot there were people watching."
Bowser looked at his audience, "oh yeah..." clearly he had forgotten all about them too. "Let's continue later," he whispered, and Peach's playful smile indicated her agreement.
"Aw how cute!" A odd human looking girl with long silver hair and matching glowing eyes stood before them. "Nice meeting you, I'm Bit!"
"Aren't you supposed to be a star," Bowser pointed at her.
Bit poked the end of Bowser's claw with the tip of her silver nail and giggled as if it was the funniest thing ever. Bowser just looked confused. "He's just adorable when he's all confused like that, how cute!"
Bowser blinked, "you're making fun of me," he realized, "I'll incinerate you for that!"
"No you won't because I'm your shipper!" Bit stuck her tongue out.
"Shipper? What exactly do you ship because I don't remember ordering anything for you," Bowser scuffed.
Bit only giggled some more, "what did I tell you, super cute. But Ludwig is my favorite. He's so cute!"
"Bit, I don't know what you're planning but this is directly interfering with the bet! And you, traitor Altuvir, you dare show your face in my presence?" Another girl appeared this one with magenta fur and green eyes. She wasn't human looking at all, but instead looked like a strangely colored humanoid fox.
"I got here first," Altuvir pointed out.
"Anyway, given the fact that Calipha can no longer keep her end of the deal if I win, the bet is invalid." Bit materialized a scroll in her hands.
"Invalid? What are you talking about? Do you doubt I can recover Altuvir's sword?" The sword which Peach still carried, disappeared and reappeared in Calipha's hands, "as you can see I can easily obtain it."
"However," bit grinned confidently. "Altuvir is no longer your property and thus that sword is not yours either. Besides," she snatched the sword from Calipha and handed it back to Peach, "that's not what the contract stated."
Calipha received the scroll Bit handed her and looked over it. "It clearly states that you will receive Altuvir's sword if you win, and dare I say your grammar is terrible." Bit giggled and Calipha came to a realization. Calipha examined the contract in detail, "Altuvir Sword... you were not talking about Altuvir's sword, this contract is for Altuvir Sword," Calipha realized. "It wasn't a mistake, first name Altuvir, last name Sword, you tricked me!"
Bit laughed, "you signed it!"
Calipha crossed her arms and muttered, "I hate you," she pouted and disappeared.
Bit continued to laugh. "She just needs to cool off, she hated being outsmarted. Well my dearest Altuvir, you finally earned your freedom and with that you annulated the bet. Calipha has no reason to bother Peach and Bowser again, she's gutless when it comes to vengeance and probably will want nothing to do with anyone here after this so we can all relax."
"Did you plan this all along?" Altuvir asked.
Bit nodded, "yup!"
"Do you have any idea how troublesome that was?" Bowser was annoyed beyond annoyed.
"I'll make it up to you," Bit continued to smile and giggle.
"all along, the sword was not the target... I could have ended this sooner but I didn't know... I am sorry," Altuvir apologized.
"It's not your fault, I'm just glad it's over," Peach returned the sword to Altuvir, "I think I can trust you with this."
"Of course, thank you Queen Peach," Altuvir received the sword.
Kamek sighed, "how anti-climatic..." his voice was an inaudible whisper.
"Alright then, now that everything is settled I'll tell you this, I may be out of practice, but I can grant wishes too, I am a star after all; I just like this form best." Bit materialized some cue cards into her hands and held them up. "This is Bowser's line."
Bowser looked at the cue cards, silently reading them, then reread them aloud, "I wish the koopalings could go on vacation to Bit's amusement park and arcade in the world of the stars."
"Wait a minute, just the koopalings?" Peach asked.
Bowser realized that he and Peach were indeed missing from the wish written in the cue card and he regretted not saying something about it sooner. "What's this about not inviting us?"
"Relax, I have something special for the two of you! Now wish for Bit's wish to be granted." Bit giggled.
"Should she really be trusted?" Kamek expressed his concern.
"Oh shut, you'll get plenty of alone time with Kammy out of this so don't complain!" Bit stuck out her tongue and Kamek said nothing more.
"This once I think is alright to take a risk; I wish that Bit's wish was granted." A thick envelope appeared floating in front of Peach. She took it and found several pairs of tickets. "What's all this?"
Bit giggled, "My wish is for my favorite couple to have a well deserved honey moon. Don't worry about anything, I'll take good care of Ludwig and keep him busy so he won't get bored while you're traveling together... um I mean the koopalings, yes the koopalings, I'll entertain them all!"
Unexpectedly Mint T. popped out from behind a rock. "What a wonderful conclusion!" Her voice was filled with sarcasm. "But you won't mind if I alter it a little to make it sound more epic in my show right? Because quite frankly this was very anti climatic!"
"Did I mention that wish includes that you will not be interrupted during your honey moon?" Bit made an okay sign.
"Then I'll spear her life," Bowser decided, "just so she can suffer with not being able to stalk us during our trip! Mawhahaha!"
Mint T. pouted, "that's so mean! Keeping me away like that... Bit, at least you're going to appear in my show since Bowser and Peach keep refusing my invitations. Interview with the Bowser Peach shipping silver star who has an obsession with blue haired men!"
Bit blinked, "how in the world did you know that?"
"Do not underestimate the media!" Mint T. cheered.
Aside from Mint T. who never convinced any of her guest prospects to appear on her show, everyone else got their happy ending. Kamek and Kammy got some quiet time alone, Peach and Bowser would finally be going on their honey moon, and the koopalings would go on vacation to the land of the stars, everybody wins! Well, maybe Ludwig would have some difficulties, but for the most part, it was a happy ending to another story in the life of the Koopa family.
End
Disclaimer, I do not own the Nintendo characters. Bit, Calipha and Altuvir are mine, the Mario concepts are not. I'm currently working on another BowserxPeach story "Destined".