Valentina absent-mindedly fiddled with her pen and sighed. Being the highest-ranking citizen of Nimbus Land, after the King and Queen, was fairly dull work, and today was no exception. Stretching, she stood up and walked to the window. Hills and valleys spread out across western Mushroom Kingdom far below, much of it gleaming white with fresh snow. Thanks to Nimbus Land, of course.
"Another job well done, not that any of those mushroom idiots has a clue of where the weather comes from. Or that it involves paperwork. Still, this thankless work isn't without its perks." Such as being the next in line for the throne. Valentina glanced up at her fancy bird-themed clock, a gift from the king. "Nearly time. I'd better get out there and get those losers assembled.
Valentina left her office and set off to the front of the palace. Once outside Valentina cleared her throat and started speaking. "Alright everybody, shuddap and get over here now. King Nimbus has something important to announce so hurry up."
Curious citizens began to gather around the entrance, gossiping amongst themselves. Right on cue King and Queen Nimbus stepped outside, ending the chatter.
"Citizens of Nimbus Land," King Cumulus Nimbus began. "My wife and I have wonderful news to share with you today. At last, after several years of waiting, we are delighted to announce that we are expecting a baby!"
Valentina's smile froze on her face as everyone else erupted into cheers. Her previously pleasant mood evaporated alongside her dreams. Of all the back-stabbing things to do to me…!
She took a deep breath and stepped forward to offer her congratulations. Even as Valentina shook the hands of the king and queen however, she was making a silent vow. No matter what it takes, I will be queen someday!
"Look at you! You keep getting bigger every time I see you," Garro the sculptor said as he admired little Prince Mallow Nimbus. Even at little more than a year old he already bore a strong resemblance to his father, though he had his mother's hair. On this day he wore a tiny pair of pants with a belt that Garro had made that bore his name on the buckle.
King Nimbus couldn't help but to swell with pride. "Yes, and he learns something new nearly every day. Why, just this morning-"
"Dear, why don't we continue the conversation indoors?" Queen Nimbus chuckled as she shifted Mallow in her arms.
"Absolutely, please step into my studio. Is there anything I can possibly get for you? Tea, perhaps, or maybe some fresh lemonade?"
Watching from a window Valentina waited until the king and queen had gone inside Garro's studio before quickly exiting the palace and heading down the beanstalks to Bean Valley. Waiting at the surface was a gang bandits consisting of birdies, blue birds, and even a few shy aways.
"I take it you have the money?" the head bandit asked as Valentina stepped forward. Valentina nodded.
"Down to the last Coin," she said as she produced a money bag, though the bandit didn't accept it just yet.
"We only consider this a down payment. Further payments are required for our continued employment."
"Which we have already discussed in detail. You will continue to be paid for as long as your services are required."
"Excellent. Consider our loyalty yours, Queen Valentina," the head bandit said as he took and pocketed the money.
"Let's get down to business. Tonight after sunset I want you to invade the palace and capture the young prince."
"Will it be difficult, Queen Valentina?" a small shy away asked.
"Not especially. There are very few guards, and none of them are armed. Nor do they have very strong powers. Now, once you have the prince I want you to retreat all the way past the land bridge and wait for my arrival. We'll proceed from there. Do you have any other questions?" All of the bandits shook their heads. "Very well. I must return now, but I look forward to your 'visit' tonight."
All present chuckled nastily and Valentina departed back up the beanstalks to Nimbus Land. The rest of the day proceed normally for Valentina; the usual paperwork, a small salad for dinner. Finally as the first stars began to appear she could hear a commotion within the palace.
Feigning surprise, Valentina came out of her office and looked around. "My stars! What's happening?"
"Bandits, Valentina! Get out of here while you still can!" a palace guard shouted as he ran past. Valentina headed in the opposite direction and hadn't gone more than a few feet before King and Queen Nimbus came around the corner up ahead. And they were carrying a very sleepy Prince Mallow.
"Valentina, there are bandits attacking the palace! We must get out of here while we still can," King Nimbus said urgently.
"Let's not waste time then, your majesties," Valentina replied. The king and queen hesitated for a moment before holding out Prince Mallow.
"Please, take Mallow with you Valentina. Take the right corridors, we'll take the left ones and meet back up outside," Queen Nimbus forced back tears as she spoke.
"I promise to take good care of him," Valentina lied as she took the little prince. Prince Mallow squeaked and reached out for his parents.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
"Shhhh, it'll be alright. Be good for auntie Valentina."
"Don't worry about us, we'll be just fine," Valentina said as she turned and set off deeper into the palace. After a few minutes searching she came across a small group of bandits and joined them down the corridor.
"Mission accomplished," she said as she triumphantly held up the prince. "The king and queen just gave him to me, it was brilliant."
"That's great! Will you be accompanying us out, then?" a blue bird asked as they put Mallow into a basket they brought along with them.
"No, that'd be too suspicious. It needs to be realistic so you'd better knock me out. I'll come down later."
"Are you sure?" one of the birdies asked, visibly nervous. Valentina nodded.
"Yes, now hurry up before someone sees us!"
Gulping, the birdie swung his spear into the back of Valentina's head. Valentina instantly crumpled and fell to the ground. Without looking back the bandits opened a window and flew back down to the surface with their tiny cargo. Beyond the desert, past the bridge, they finally landed at the base of a hill.
"Queen Valentina was right, that was easy!" the blue bird said as he set down the basket containing the now-sleeping prince.
"I know, right? That was almost unfair, it's great!"
"Imagine the tears they'll shed when they find out," a birdie cackled.
"Imagine the rewards Queen Valentina will give us," a shy away said. "I want lots and lots of plant seeds to grow!"
"That's a dumb reward. I'd rather have money." The blue bird and another birdie nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, well, your face is dumb!" the shy away retorted.
As they argued, none of them noticed Klepto the Condor snatch up the basket and fly off to the east.
Back in the palace, Valentina was coming to as one of the guards waved smelling salts under her nose, King and Queen Nimbus waiting at her side.
"Valentina, can you hear me? Are you alright?"
"Yes, I-I think so," she replied as the guard helped her sit up. Catching sight of the king and queen, Valentina bowed her head.
"I'm so sorry. They ambushed us and I tried to get away, but they were too strong, and took the prince away from me."
Queen Nimbus gasped and covered her mouth, instantly tearing up. King Nimbus quickly stood up, pale and trembling.
"I want everyone down in Bean Valley at once. Search the desert, too. They must not get away with this!"
"Right away, your majesty," the guard bowed and hurried off. Valentina got to her feet.
"Sire, I want to join the search. I feel like it's my fault this happened." Which it is, of course.
"Don't blame yourself Valentina. It could have happened to anyone. You are of course welcome to accompany them."
"Thank you so much, your majesty. I will do whatever I can to help." Valentina bowed and set off. As soon as they had gone Queen Nimbus finally broke down crying. Outside it instantly began to rain.
"Oh Cumulus! What if they hurt Mallow? What if-" She sobbed harder, unable to continue. King Nimbus pulled her into his arms and too began to cry. The rain fell even harder as the couple wished with all their might for Mallow's safe return.
"He WHAT?!" Valentina roared as thunder cracked over Land's End. "How could you idiots possibly lose a baby?!"
"We don't know what happened Queen Valentina," one of the birdies whimpered. "We were just waiting for everyone else and suddenly the basket was gone."
"Shuddap! What kind of crap bandits are you, letting another bandit steal from you?!" Valentina glared at the group and even the leader wilted under her gaze. "I don't care if another monster or bandit kills him first, but if anybody from Nimbus Land finds him alive, it's over. We won't get another opportunity. Bring him back here and step on it!"
"Y-yes ma'am!" the head bandit saluted as the rest of the group quickly scattered before flying off into the night himself.
The short night seemed to stretch on forever as both groups searched frantically for the missing prince. But when the grey dawn broke nobody could find even a trace of the whereabouts of Prince Mallow.
Klepto the Condor meanwhile had flown east through the rainy night with the stolen basket containing the missing prince. By the time the sun rose they were over central Mushroom Kingdom, many miles away from the Land's End region.
"Man, rain is just the absolute worst. I hate patrolling the skies in the rain!" one of the Koopa Troop's loyal lakitus complained to his patrol mate.
"You said the same thing yesterday about the sunny weather. All you did was whine about how you wanted some clouds, and now that we have 'em you want 'em gone."
"I said I wanted clouds, not rain. We can't see anything in this stupid rain! Those toads could be up to something and we'd never know it thanks to this lousy weath-Oof! Hey! Watch where yer flyin'!"
Klepto let out a screech upon colliding with the lakitu and dropped the basket. Mallow woke up and immediately began crying as he fell to the surface, prompting even heavier rainfall. Luckily for the young prince the basket landed on a warp pipe and safely popped up the other side. Unluckily the sewer he reappeared in was completely flooded thanks to the nightlong rainfall.
Mallow's cries echoed loudly in the tunnels as the basket floated away down the current.
"What a miserable day. This rain will never let up anytime soon," Frogfucius muttered to himself as he chewed on some crickets beneath the tree on his island. Being the only frog in Tadpole Pond could get very lonely, especially on a day like today.
Having nothing better to do Frogfucius watched the sizable Midas Falls that fed the pond. As he watched something suddenly plummeted down the waterfall and vanished underwater. Moments later it popped back up again and drifted over to his island.
"Huh, looks like a basket. Some toad must've lost it on a picnic," he said as it drifted closer. Frogfucius didn't think more of it until it bumped up against his island and realized a baby was inside of it!
"My stars…!" Frogfucius jumped up and plucked the basket out of the water. He gently lifted up the baby and carried him over to the tree. Pale yellow and round, with a single pink tuft of hair, he had never seen another being like him before.
"What a relief, you're still alive," he whispered when he noticed the unconscious baby was still breathing. "You poor thing. You look so well cared for. What in the world happened?" As Frogfucius cradled the baby he realized something was engraved on the little belt he was wearing. "'Mallow'. Is that your name, little grasshopper?"
Eventually the baby stirred and began to whimper. "Shhhh, it's alright. You're safe now," Frogfucius whispered as he rocked the baby. The baby's eyes slowly opened and blinked a few times.
"I don't know who you are, or where you came from, but I'll take care of you. Welcome to your new home, little Mallow."
"Daddy?" the baby, Mallow, squeaked. Frogfucius smiled and shook his head.
"No, I'm…your grandpa."
"Gampa!" Mallow smiled and giggled. At once the rain slowed and ceased, and the gloomy clouds parted into a beautiful summer's day. "Gampa!" Mallow eagerly repeated a second time.
Frogfucius was astonished at the sudden change in the weather. "Did you…? No, it must be a coincidence. No one can control the weather, especially not a baby."