Storyboard Tools For Destinations

[MessengerOfDreams]

It's when I get to the top of the room when I see him. He's a simple koopa, wearing a round hat that seems to consist of bully skin. One of the more unusual hats I've seen, but not too bad.

He welcomes me with widened eyes and upturned eyebrows. "Why, if it isn't Mario," he declares with evident surprise before introducing himself. "Neil Du Mal. What on Earth brings you here?"

I'm honestly surprised that anyone's even in here and so I ask "What brings you here?"

He stares at me for a few seconds before relenting. "Alright, what brings me in here... is a dream."

If my expression reflected my astonishment, he doesn't note anything. "Now for you. What brings you in here?"

I take a few seconds to decide what to tell him, but settle for the truth. "Also a dream," I admit, and I hear a gasp tear through his throat.

After a few more seconds, he asks "...of the world's end? The monster? His destruction?"

I nod bleakly, and immediately we launch into a discussion of our dreams, which are nearly identical, down to the ending where we almost catch the culprit. He immediately turns the conversation into a plan.

"I have a plan," he states before I could comprehend it. "Mario, do you know why this castle is so important?"

"Mostly because of what I read on the first building on the skywalk," I reply.

"Yes, but there is another reason," he informs me. "I spent twelve years as a magikoopa before retiring from Bowser's forces, and one of the things I learned is of Dream Sprites."

I decide to let the bit about being a former magikoopa slide by without a fight and focus on the larger topic. "Dream Sprites?"

"Yes! Dream Sprites are extremely rare items spread around the Kingdoms that require ten silver stars to unlock. I've gathered five already in the lower castle but the upper castle, the training grounds, are proving much too difficult for me."

"What does it do?" I insist.

"Dream Sprites allow whoever gathers enough stars to unlock it to have control over reality. This person would allow the sprite to dissolve into him or her and would gain its power. Our monster, the destroyer of worlds, would be able to take this Sprite and use it to do just what he so wishes!"

A flooring concept, but one that leaves me dubious. "Where are the other Dream Sprites?"

"They've all been gathered!" Neil insists. "Long ago and through the ages! Some have changed the history of the world, and some have been killed before they have the chance! This is the only one remaining because of the volatile nature of this castle and of the kingdoms that have owned it!"

"So..." I add. "If I were to take this sprite... I would have its powers. That's damning in and of itself."

Neil furrows his brow. "Well... I still have some of my magikoopa senses within me. I can counteract the Dream Sprite's spell before it takes you over too far. It takes a horrendous amount of time to fully understand its powers, so surely purging it from you will be easy, like an antibiotic to a virus."

To me, the whole thing seems remarkably risky. Many things could happen, and I even wonder why the Dream Sprite was left so much in the open. But... it's a chance. And one I'm willing to take.

"I'll do it," I declare.

"Excellent!" Neil nods. "So, first you must gather the other five silver stars. There is a room in the East Wing where one lies, and four rooms higher up in the castle for you to traverse as well. I have left some information on faster traveling through secret passageways by the Northwestern exit to the higher levels. It shall prove very useful."

"Understood," I acknowledge.

He hands me a walkie talkie. Immediately I can't help but laugh at the antique device. "Are you serious?" I ask incredulously.

"Hey, these were what the kids used to be into!" Neil insists with a disciplined glare. I chuckle and take the endearing object and place it in my pocket. "I'll be sure to use it when I may need it," I offer.

"Excellent! Now," Neil tells me, "go ahead and trip this switch. It'll deactivate the lock I set up to get you over here, and you can access the first room."

I do so wordlessly. He grins and states "Good luck, Mario! We shall be sure to stop this from happening like the heroes we are!"

Whatever you say, I mumble to myself internally, already descending down from the confident, odd Magikoopa and towards the first silver star.

[MessengerOfDreams]

The Crossroad Castle and Destination Grounds

This amazing accomplishment is the last remaining structure of the former union between what is now the Koopa and Mushroom Kingdoms. Supersoldiers were trained here for the purpose of providing an excellent defense for the people- if you could pass the trials here, you were deemed one of the knights of the kingdom! If not, you were sent back home safe and sound, albeit highly disappointed.

When the kingdom was divided fifty years ago into what they were today, this training ground was abandoned. Neither kingdom had the nerve or need to destroy it, and to do so would surely escalate the conflict further. It'd be so easy to destroy the castle too- what keeps it afloat is a magical device known as the LifeStar, which provides a powerful healing support to anyone who touches it, and what harnesses a power strong enough to keep the castle in tip top shape. It'd be difficult to break it, but possible.

I've found my way to this castle myself for a very important reason, so if anyone else has wandered up here- first off, congratulations to you, you're halfway to meeting the standards of the knights of olden days, and second, feel free to meet me in the West Wing of the main Castle! I'll be the older Koopa in the odd hat!

~Neil Du Mal