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Mario Party 5, the fifth Mario Party since the parties began three years ago. The parties started out simply–just a fun competition to keep everyone on their toes during times of peace–but each new party has been more elaborate than the last. This tournament has taken place in the Dream Depot, a repository for dreams, a place guarded by the Stars.
But why would the Stars open the doors to such an important place?
The Stars know, but the players and the audience don’t need to. All they should do is focus on the competition.
It was a gamble to stay involved with the event, to be this close to the Star Spirits, to him , but “Ztar” has a mission and the mission always comes first. To be blessed with a direct order from his queen is the highest honor. He has remained on Astraea for the past three years for that exact purpose–everything for the sake of the upcoming 64th Eternal Party. Everything must be perfect, as she wishes.
It would have been fine if the Star Spirits hadn’t gotten directly involved.
And him . Ztar knows he’s watching, looking around–a buff young man with bright blue hair and a sailor’s cap–Muskular. What a ridiculous name. Not that “Ztar” is any better.
Stars and their puns, Stars and their games–to spread joy and laughter to offset pain until the pain is too numb to remember it’s there–In that way, Stars and Ztars are exactly the same.
“Hey, Boss?”
Ztar looks up from his thoughts to see Zoraida, his assistant, white bunny ears sticking out from their top hat. “Everything’s in order?”
“Yeah, but I don’t think–”
“You don’t have to think, just do your job.”
Zoraida pouts. “You really think leaving me here in this room by myself is a good idea?”
“Ideally, no, but it’s necessary. I’ll still be around. Just send me a message.” He looks at them seriously. “I’ll… take you to that carrot field if you do this correctly.”
Zoraida’s eyes sparkle. “Oh!” They shake their head and say, “You think I’m that easy? You gotta promise to make a carrot cake with me. And eat it.”
Ztar grimaces. “I don’t want to…” He trails off as he sees a suspicious grin spread on Zoraida’s face. “You’re incorrigible. Fine then. Just this once, but you have to perform perfectly or else.”
Zoraida places their hands on their hips and sticks their tongue out. “I always perform perfectly, and you know it!” They look at their pocket watch and say, “You’d better go before someone catches you lingering around.”
“Ugh.” As he stands up, he places a coin on his thumb and flicks it away.
Zoraida, predictably, leaps to catch it. As they do so, Ztar slips out of the room.
The Dream Depot is a series of space stations orbiting Astraea. Aside from the Star Spirits, there are other Stars meandering around, helping as assistants to the tournament. Avoiding all of them is impossible in this space, but Ztar has had minimal interactions with them, as they tend to avoid his presence.
He can sense the Star Spirits–their auras are stronger, brighter–and he can avoid them easily as most of them aren’t actively seeking him out.
But the one person he doesn’t want to see is making a beeline directly to him–a bright blue spark barreling down the halls. He must have found out that Ztar relinquished his role as referee.
Ztar books it–he doesn’t mean to run, and he shouldn’t, it’s not his style–and lifts off the ground, flying through the narrow corridors of the housing unit until he reaches the wider space of the lobby. He slips into a maintenance closet, removing the covering to an air vent, and climbs through, carefully placing the cover back in place, hesitating as he feels Muskular’s aura move past the maintenance closet before stopping.
Too close. Why is he turning around?
“Good morning, Muskular!” Kinopio’s voice. “I’m surprised you’re not already at the court!”
“G-good morning, Kino.”
A stutter, no title, just a nickname. Ztar narrows his eyes.
A pause. “I heard that Kuribo was today’s referee.”
“Ah, yes, it was a last minute change.”
Another pause. “You don’t think he’s avoiding me, do you?”
“Anything’s possible, bud! He’s certainly less involved during this tournament. I thought that might be the case considering the history between the Stars and Ztars.”
“But… I just wanted to ask a few questions. There’s only today and tomorrow.”
“...Muskular.”
“Yes?”
“If he really is avoiding you, then there’s not much you can do about that. Chasing him might cause more problems.”
Muskular doesn’t respond. Ztar imagines his face–stoically trying not to look disappointed and failing.
“However, Ztar’s assistant is still around.”
“Oh, I heard about them. I’ve been told they’ve been doing the duties that Ztar usually does.”
“Right. I can show you where they’re staying.”
“Alright.”
Ztar takes his Mailbox Advance from his pocket and messages Zoraida: [Get out of the room, and go somewhere else. I don’t want anyone interrogating you.]
Zoraida’s reply: [lol on it boss]
Ztar looks up as Muskular and Kino’s auras begin to move away, but he can tell–Muskular can sense him, too.
It’s not like it’s hard. A Ztar’s spark may be negative, but it is still a spark. A void in the shape of a spark where light should be.
Hiding in an air vent. Ztar blushes and leaves the air vent as soon as Muskular is far enough away. He runs his hands over his suit to smooth out the wrinkles, dusts himself off, and leaves the closet.