Mario nodded.
"For example," she continued, "the reality we face every day is full of ordinary things. Except for occasional disturbances, the order of things remains about the same. Few things ever really change. Then we go and watch fantastic stories about time travel and genius detectives. In reality, it's all consistent. In fact, I can't imagine anything more commonplace than our everyday- good heavens, what's that?"
Her monologue had been interrupted by the sight of what looked a little like a solar-powered trash can with a plunger approaching them both on a set of wheels.
"YOU ARE THE PRINCESS OF THIS PLANET?" it demanded.
"Incorrect," replied Peach, a little startled. "I am ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, and technically, it's more of a regency."
"NONETHELESS, YOU ARE A PERSON OF AUTHORITY?"
"Yes."
"THEN YOU WILL ACCOMPANY ME!"
"Why? Where are you going?"
"DALEKS DO NOT ANSWER HUMAN QUESTIONS. YOU WILL COME NOW!"
"I won't budge until you explain a little more about yourself. Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Mario had watched the conversation with concern. Peach's diplomatic approach obviously wouldn't last long. He quickly consumed a Fire Flower, but apparently not fast enough, because the creature saw him do it and appeared to become enraged.
"YOU WILL COME WITH ME IMMEDIATELY! YOUR COMPANION IS UNNECESSARY. EX-TER-MIN-ATE!"
Before it could do anything, however, it was interrupted by a strange sound. Mario and Peach wheeled around and stood stunned as something like a police phone box they'd seen in old 50s movies appeared, apparently out of nowhere.
"THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!" cried the creature. "EXPLAIN! EXPLAIN! EXPLAIN!"
Suddenly Yoshi sprang from the box "They don't recognize it anymore than you do!" he cried. "You two! RUN!"
They didn't need to be told twice. Mario and Peach dashed towards the box with all the speed they could muster. The creature began firing out of what looked like a laser gun, but its shock at seeing the blue box had delayed its response time, and the shots never came close. A few seconds later they were all inside, and Yoshi slammed the door shut.
"My goodness, Yoshi!" Peach said. "Thank you for coming in the blink of time! But how did you..." her words were stopped short as she realized the vastness of the room she'd stepped into. It was nothing near the size it had been- it was bigger on the inside!
Mario, as usual, was unperturbed.
"This is impossible!" she cried. "Yoshi, what- oh, there's two of you. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," interrupted the Purple Yoshi. "We have different names anyway. I'm Clara, that's The Doctor."
"What? Did you Yoshis decide to start changing your names?"
"I don't have time to explain," said Yoshi. "Clara, give them the short version."
"All right then. Mario, Peach, first I need to tell you the hard part. Yoshi isn't Yoshi at all. He usually goes by The Doctor, and he's from a planet very far away. You're inside his ship, the TARDIS, which, as you noticed, is bigger on the inside. The Doctor has been living as a Yoshi since you've been babies, and that's because-"
"Not that part!" interrupted the Doctor in a pained voice.
"Sorry. Anyways, Yoshi is actually a Time Lord, an alien from outer space. He came to this planet years ago and turned himself into a Yoshi, including his memories. He quickly befriended everyone on the island, and then in the Mushroom Kingdom. He even served as your sidekick, Mario, which is an unusual role for him. Please, don't think he's been deceiving you on purpose. He had decided to live the rest of his life as a Yoshi, and he believed he was one just as much as you did. One of his friends, however, knew the truth, and, using a device The Doctor had hidden, made him realize who he was again. Yoshi is a myth, The Doctor is real. I explained to him who you were, and he came to rescue you from the creature that just accosted you."
"That can't be true...can it?" asked Peach, her voice quavering.
The Doctor looked at the group, and immediately wished he hadn't. Peach looked shocked, but he recognized on Mario's face something he had seen on himself far too many times - the look of a man who just lost his closest friend forever. He walked up to both of them.
"I'm so sorry," he said.
"...Yoshi?" was all Mario whispered. Peach started to say something, then stopped short.
"Your world is in danger. A race more terrible than anything you've ever battled is invading, and they will stop at nothing to make this planet into their version of an ideal place."
"What kind of place?" asked Peach.
"A place where they're the only things alive."
"There's no time to worry," Clara interrupted.
"Right, then!" The Doctor dashed up to the console. "Well, it looks like you're the only kingdom with visitors, at least for now. Why, though? That's not very much like Daleks, to wait when they could attack in full force...unless they can't! Oh, oh, oh, I see it now! They can't really attack after our last encounter- it left them too weak. No, they can't budge until they get their hands on something, but what? What would power a Dalek attack?"
He dashed up to Peach. "What makes this kingdom different from any other kingdom? What's your favorite possession?"
"Stars."
"Who directs them?"
"Almost anyone in the kingdom can, but most of the ones we keep are in my castle."
"No. No...no, no, no, no!" The Doctor began pacing frantically.
"Doctor, what is it?" asked Clara.
"Stars! Big, flaming, balls of luminous gas with megatons and gigatons of energy- but not here. Here they mean something else. They make people invincible, don't they?
"It's a waste of their power, but yes," replied Peach. "How did you know?"
"Clara explained, but it doesn't matter! Daleks have no concept of waste," cried the Doctor. "They'll harness every star in the Mushroom Kingdom by harvesting them from every place and every person. They'll black it all out, take out every star."
"It doesn't stop there, Doctor," Clara said sadly. "There's a race of creatures that transform into stars when they become mature. What's more, they're even more populous than the stars themselves, and, as Mario can testify, they're easy to catch."
"Lumas?" Peach asked incredulously.
"Invincible Daleks," muttered The Doctor. "The end of every single planet's freedom, life, and happiness." Well! Not happening while I'm around! They took Red, though. Why?"
"Red was your companion, and he knows everything about Mario, Peach, and everyone else of major import in the Mushroom Kingdom. They want him for information. He'll know where to find and how to find the stars. Plus...he'll keep you busy. The more time you spend rescuing him, the more they can do without your interference."
"They haven't started yet," said the Doctor. "Red's putting up more of a fight than they expected. They won't kill him unless they get what they want from him."
"Our first priority is rescuing him, then!" said Peach.
"On that we can both agree. I've got the Dalek's coordinates, but I should let you all off before I go."
"We're not going anywhere, Doctor," said Clara.
"Absolutely not!" added Peach. "If the kingdom's in trouble, it's my responsibility to help."
"It's too dangerous."
"Right. We totally care about that."
"You won't be able to leave them behind, Doctor," said Clara.
The Doctor looked at Mario. "What about you, old friend?"
Mario smiled, a little sadly. "Let's a-go."
"Oh...so that's where it came from."
Continued next week (or the day afterwards).
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