Super Mario Universe

9 | Star-Crossed Skyway

Mario, Luigi, Rosalina, Starlow and Sprix walked for hours and hours through those rolling hills, yet they saw nothing.

"You're lucky you ran into me!" Sprix laughed. "People can get permanently lost in these parts!"

Mario shuddered. "We were on our way to the Crooked Sprixie Castle," he said.

"What??!" Sprix laughed. "Why in the world would you be going to the Crooked Sprixie Castle??!!!!!??" he started dying.

"What's wrong?" Luigi said. "The sign told us to. And signs never lie."

"No one lives in the Crooked Sprixie Castle!" Sprix almost started crying from laughing so hard. "They haven't in ages!"

"Why is that?" Rosalina asked.

"For starters," Sprix said, "our kingdom doesn't even have a ruler! And you guys wanted to go to the castle!!! Like anyone would help you there!"

"So what's the point of a castle that no one lives in?" Starlow asked.

"It's a tourist attraction, like the amusement park we're heading to."

The group stopped arguing with the Sprixie. Obviously he knew his way around Sprixie Land, and Mario's group didn't.

The group continued walking for ages and ages and ages. Finally, late in the afternoon, the group caught sight of something on the horizon.

"Is that it?" Mario yelped with glee.

"Why, yes it is," Sprix said. "You're a smart one. And I'm a funny one. HA!"

No one else laughed at his joke.

"Okay, so maybe you guys don't like me that much," Sprix said. "But why?"

"Oh," Rosalina laughed sarcastically. "We don't not like you! We love you! You're our best friend forever!"

"Do you really mean it?" Sprix said. "Are you lying??"

"Does it sound like I'm lying?" Rosalina fake-smiled.

"Uhh . . . well, yes, it does," Mario interrupted them. "But it doesn't matter. We just need to find the Golden Pipe as soon as possible."

Starlow interrupted them. "Well, why don't you all stop arguing and we can get over to the park?!"

Everyone stopped and looked at her. She was right. "Look at us," Mario laughed. "We're arguing over funny we are. That's sad."

"Let's all make up and be best friends!" Luigi said, bringing everyone into a group hug.

Mario squinted. Rosalina giggled. Starlow laughed. And Sprix flew out. "Can I come with you guys after we're done with this adventure, too?" he asked. "I can cheer you guys up."

Mario sighed. "I don't knowwwwwwwwwwwwww . . ." he started. "we're dealing with dangerous people."

"Oh, whatever! We've already got a thing going on with us five!" Rosalina said. "You, Sprix, of course can join us."

"Yay!" Sprix laughed. He flew up to Rosalina and hugged her. It seemed they really had become friends. Frenemies, at least.

"Let's keep going to Star-Crossed Skyway," Mario told everyone.

Finally, about an hour later, the group entered the amusement park with some spare money Sprix had on hand. It was really busy, crowded with thousands of people . . . or Sprixies, I should say. There weren't any humans present other than Mario, Luigi, and Rosalina so they looked kind of odd to the fairies.

"You guys must be famous," Sprix laughed. "I think I remember which ride the Golden Pipe was on."

"Let's go," Mario said.

"It's been a while since I've been here," Sprix said to himself, looking around. "Feels like I've come back home."

"Maybe you have!" Rosalina said. "But honestly we don't have the time for your flashbacks. We need to go to this Golden Pipe."

Sprix shuddered. "I remember where I saw it!" he yelped. "It's in the background of the haunted house ride."

"Yay! How fun!" Mario said.

"NO!!!" Luigi yelled. "NO HAUNTED HOUSES AGAIN!!!!!!"

"Again?" Rosalina said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "You must be out of your mind."

"What's new?" Mario laughed. "But we don't have time for his flashbacks either."

The group walked over to the haunted house ride. They made sure they got their own car, because they didn't really wanna frighten anybody else.

Once on, Luigi kept screaming and crying. "Chill out!" Mario told him.

"I can't--" Luigi said. "It brings back so many memories."

"Bad ones?" Rosalina said. "Why?"

"Let's just say, you don't ever win something you didn't sign up for."

The group shushed the cry baby. They were coming up to the Golden Pipe.

"That is a Golden Pipe!" Mario said with delight. "Thank you so much, Sprix!!"

"No problem," Sprix said. "But remember, 'we don't have time for anything'."

Mario rolled his eyes. They all got our of the cart and walked over to the Golden Pipe, which shone bright through the pitch-black anti-light.

"Goodbye, Sprixie Land!" Mario said. "I'll never see you again, hopefully!"

"You're rude!" Sprix said. He pushed Mario down the pipe, followed by him himself and the others.

--🌎--

They were in that room full of doors again.

"What is this?" Sprix gasped. "Where are we?"

"We don't know," Mario said. He turned and faced the door that read Mushroom Kingdom.

"We don't know what's happened in your absence," Rosalina said. "So we need to prepare."

"Let's go," Mario said.

He walked and twisted the doorknob. Then he opened it and within seconds the five of them were in the Mushroom Kingdom!