Wish
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"My only wish is for you to save this precious world."
-Kalmar to Mario, Paper Mario
A wish is the embodiment of a strong hope or desire for something to occur. The power of wishes is one of the strongest forces acting upon Mushroom World and its various related worlds. While anyone can make a wish, the ability to grant that wish usually resides within a powerful being, artifact, or location. However the power of certain wish-granting sources is directly dependant on the conviction of the individual making the wish.
History
Wishes and the Beginning of Time
The power of wishes has existed in some form since the beginning of time. The wish-granting beings known as the Star Spirits and their powerful artifact the Star Rod have apparently been around from the time time itself first began. According to Eldstar, the seven Star Spirits have “cared for [the Star Rod] since the beginning of time.” The Star Spirits and the Star Rod reside in Star Haven high above the world. For countless millennia the Star Spirits have watched over the world, granting wishes to deserving people, thus allowing the world to prosper peacefully. Star Haven is likely connected to another celestial region above Mushroom World, the Star Road which also has the power to grant wishes, although the exact relationship between the two is unknown.
The Smithy Gang Invasion and the Destruction of Star Road
During the events of Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the power of wishes was threatened after the fracturing of Star Road by the Smithy Gang. The Star Road grants wishes by transforming them into special stars. When a wish is made down below, it is transformed into a star at the Star Road. If and when the wish is granted, the star turns into a shooting star and falls from the Star Road down to the surface of the planet, specifically Star Hill. However, when Smithy invaded Mario’s world, his minion Exor crashed through the Star Road, breaking off seven Star Pieces which fell to earth. Without these fragments, the Star Road was unable to transform wishes into stars and later grant them. Additionally, wishes that had been transformed into stars continued to fall to Star Hill, but since the Star Road was destroyed, these wishes were not granted. As such, a warrior of the Star Road named ♥♪!? (or Geno after the doll he inhabited) was sent to find the broken Star Pieces and restore the Star Road. Geno teamed up with Mario and his new ally Mallow in order to stop the Smithy Gang, collect the seven Star Pieces, and restore the power of wishes to the world. As Geno told Mario after collecting their second Star Piece: “The way things stand, yours is a world where wishes can’t come true anymore.”
Ultimately Geno, with the help of Mario, Mallow, Peach, and Bowser, was able to collect six Star Pieces and confront Smithy, who had the last Star Piece in his possession. Smithy was eventually informed about the power of wishes and the importance of the Star Pieces. The leader of the Smithy Gang therefore kept the last Star Piece in his possession to prevent anyone from restoring the power of wishes to the world, as that would directly interfere with his ability to conquer the world. He states upon being confronted by Geno and his allies: “Why don't YOU give me YOUR stars. Why, then I could easily conquer this world! Then we could get rid of all wishes, and create a world filled with...WEAPONS!!” Smithy intended to replace wishes with his own weapons as one of the dominant forces in the world. Essentially, wishes were a threat to Smithy, as their power could assist those who did not have the weapons to resist his invasion. In the end however, Smithy was destroyed in battle and Geno was able to repair the Star Road with the seven Star Pieces. The power of wishes was restored to the world.
The Koopa Troop Captures the Star Rod
During the events of Paper Mario, the power of wishes was co-opted by Bowser after the King of Koopas was able to secure the Star Rod for his own purposed. Bowser and his armies attacked Star Haven, sealing the Star Spirits inside magical cards and stealing the wish-granting Star Rod. The King of the Koopas decided to steal the Star Rod in order to grant his own wishes after years of having his personal wishes denied. The Star Spirits would not grant every wish they receive, only those wishes of the people they deemed deserving. The elder stars do not grant selfish wishes, such as Bowser’s desire to “trounce Mario” or his hope for “Princess Peach to like me.” However, after capturing the Star Rod, Bowser could use the Star Rod to turn himself into an invulnerable, all-powerful being. With the power of the Star Rod, Bowser was able to capture Princess Peach, conquer much of the Mushroom Kingdom, and finally defeat his nemesis Mario in battle.
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