Alice: Hiya! And welcome to the second chapter! We got a review! Woo! I hope to receive more in the future because I love, love, love reviews! Also they help me know what you're thinking about the story!

Ultrra: Lol and in NO way do you sound desperate at all Alice…

Alice: I hope everyone noticed a couple of things about last chapter! One, I've kind of combined the older Daisy with the newer Daisy

Ultrra:…I truly hope you explain yourself, because even I'm confused by that statement, and I've been helping you with this story.

Alice: I mean that on Nintendo 64 Daisy used to be tan with long hair, and now on the wii she's pale, with round child-like eyes and shoulder length hair.

Ultrra:…Should have said that from the beginning so everyone isn't so confused.

Alice: AHEM, so since she's a desert princess, I figured Nintendo had the right idea with making her have a tan and it was also another way to tell her and Peach apart. So in this story she looks like her 'wii' self but with her Nintendo 64 tan. Also her personality is a combination as well.

Ultrra: Aaaand yet again I'm confused.

Alice: The Daisy of Nintendo 64 was clumsy and the wii just is confident, and straight kick ass, so it's a combination of both.

Ultrra: So then the Daisy in this story kicks ass, but sometimes fails because she will trip—because she's clumsy-and miss the ass she was supposed to have kicked?

Alice:…

Ultrra:…What?

Alice: So anyways, you guys go ahead and enjoy the story! ^_^

Ultrra: You didn't think what I said was clever?

Alice: Honestly? No not really…Anyways, read and review okay? ;D

Daisy is the tomboyish, clumsy yet fiery princess of Sarasaland and King Bowser is absolutely smitten. As a result chaos, turmoil and humor ensues. Why? Because things are never easy for the desert blossom.

oOoOoOo Tomboy and The Beast oOoOoOo

"Who said anything about finding Peach?"

I stared at him incredulously, "What?"

The massive koopa king leaned over, letting his beefy elbows rest firmly on the rim of his clown car. As he grinned, he crossed his arms and arched an eyebrow, "So are you gonna come willingly or—"

"Or?"

"—Act like an idiot and try to flee?"

I blinked, too stunned to even think of a smart-ass response. Okay, hold on now. I had to double check and look around to see who he was talking to here. If those red things in his face were indeed his eyes then I'd say he was looking at me.

"…You talkin' to me?" Ah I should have added a mafia accent here.

This received a dry smile, "Noooo, I'm talking to the invisible girl behind you. The one who actually has a brain."

I felt my temper flare dangerously as my eye twitched; what a big, scaly jerk...

"You," I pointed at him, "want to take me?" Then hiked a thumb at myself, "You know I'm not Peach right?"

His grin twisted maliciously, "I'm positive you're the princess I want. I'm taking you like it or not, Sweetie."

Sweetie?

Okay then, so he wants to kidnap me. This guy's in for a surprise. He's used to kidnapping Peach but he's going to learn the hard way I'm not going to stand around and cry for help. I, Princess Daisy of Sarasaland, am going to give him a Sarasaland ass-kicking!

I stood up, trying to put on a face braver than I felt by a mile. He was King Bowser, the legendary demon king imbued with blazing red eyes, a sinful smile of sharp fangs and a towering, hulking form. For a change I was glad to be wearing my long gown; it hid my shaking knees.

"You wanna kidnap me huh? Well then fire-breath! You've got another damn thing coming to you!" I even pointed at him heroically, "If you think I'm not gonna put up a fight then you're wrong buddy!"

With a war cry—I tried to ignore Bowser 's condescending grin—I chucked the magazine at the koopa as hard as I could, picked up my dress and tailed it out of there. With each step I took, racing through the green meadow, my heart pounded against my sternum wildly; this is crazy! What is Bowser doing going after me?! Doesn't he have some kind of pact with the Mushroom Kingdom to only kidnap their pretty princess?!

A reverberating deep chuckle suffused and seconds later the loud whirling of the clown car's propellers roared to life. A strong gale nearly knocked me off of my feet but I stumbled, continuing on.

Oh crap, oh crap he was coming after me!

Seriously why is he chasing me? What does he want? And why do heels suck goombas to run in?! A looming, horned shadow swallowed up my position precariously as the whirling of the clown car's propellers became deafening.

As I looked over my shoulder, Bowser hung out of the tilted clown car, grinning with an ominous outstretched arm. His sharp claws were moments away from touching me and no matter how hard I ran, I could not escape him. I screamed angrily as I realized the inevitable: I was about to be kidnapped.

"I can't believe this is happening to meeee-ahhh!"

In a desperate attempt for escape, I dove for the ground but a strong arm wrapped around my middle and effortlessly hoisted me into the air. The next thing I knew, I'm caught. A cold surge of panic flared like a burst of lightning; I'm hanging in the air, being ripped away from my family and friends by a monstrous king.

"P-Put me down!" I screamed.

"Really?" he replied with a sarcastic humor, "That's a long fall, Princess."

I was powerless, watching as the ground gradually disappeared and became further away. A deluge of despair flooded my being as the Mushroom Kingdom palace became a tiny dot on the green horizon.

I screamed, struggling and kicking as Bowser hauled me into the jowls of the clown car. A vituperate blend of fear and ire roiled in the pit of my stomach; this was all that selfish monster's fault. I growled, smacking any part of him I could with my fists. Maybe if I hit him enough he'd decide I wasn't worth the struggle. But he glowered with amusement.

"Do they teach all you girls to do this in female school or something?" He laughed, grinning darkly, " 'If kidnapped, swing away pathetically at him.' Stars it's so cute."

"Let me go you bastard!" I roared.

In the midst of the struggle I kicked, managing to pull off a roundhouse. I hoped to crack him hard in the jaw but I was nowhere near hitting him. My shoe flew off, dropping into the abyss of clouds.

He laughed again and the second he set me down to take control of the yolk, I started to wail on him, pounding my fists against his shell. But no matter how hard I beat my fists against his hard shell, it did nothing. In fact he even shot a sly grin my way.

"How dare you try and take me against my will!" I growled and with each word I punched his scaly hide, "Here comes the Sarasaland ass-kicking you big, overgrown turtle!"

With a roar I threw a fist into his carapace; in my mind I'm beating the hell out of him! Oh yeah I'm channeling my inner Super Mario! I was throwing lightning fast punches and breaking his bones! But since Bowser's not even flinching from the grand, powerful Sarasaland ass-kicking, I'm pretty sure my 'attacks' are just plain pathetic.

In fact is he even smirking!?

Ugh! Dammit! For pride's sake I hope I really don't look pathetic. I probably do. The Koopa jerk chuckled as he continued to steer, "Is this the 'Sarasaland ass-kicking?' Hmm?"

"YOU JERK! LET ME GO NOW OR I'LL BEAT YOU SENSELESS!"

As I continued to beat my fists against his shell, he turned and raised an eyebrow. He smirked, "Aw that's real cute. Is that supposed to hurt princess?"

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm going to start hating that smirk of his. I blushed, crossed my arms and wished him to, "Eat a turnip and digest it wrong!"

Bowser threw his head back in obnoxious laughter and I blinked when his face appeared a few inches from my own. I raised both eyebrows, stumbling back a bit. What the hell!? Personal boundaries exist for a reason!

"Only if you spoon-feed it to me," he grinned as he flicked my chin with a claw.

I gaped at him.

He winked.

Oh HELL NO!

I spluttered angrily as I threw a tantrum; yes I'm ashamed to admit he managed to force me back to a time when I was four. I was red-faced, shouting, cursing and jumping up and down like a lunatic while waving my hands. How dare he?! How dare that big, overgrown, scaly turtle touch me!

He touched me!

"Don't touch me!" I snapped, face still red from anger.

"I'll do whatever the hell I want thank you very much," he was still grinning, something told me he wasn't taking this seriously.

"I-If you try that ever again! I'll—!"

"What?" he huffed, "You'll give me another 'Sarasaland ass-kicking'?"

"Version 2.0 next time!" I hissed through my teeth. Bowser laughed softly, shaking his head. Why is he laughing at me!? The Sarasaland ass kicking is a lethal weapon!

I huffed angrily, mind still reeling. I had been kidnapped! I can't believe this is really happening! I had been kidnapped, stowed away and stuck with this gigantic goober. A giant goober who felt he could do and say as he pleases. I have to weigh my options, either A I could unleash the Sarasaland ass-kicking version 2.0 on this poor unsuspecting koopa, or B I could try to reason with him.

Option B it is.

I composed myself, straightening up my dress and pushing the bangs out of my face. I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him, "Alrighty, listen here Koopa King—"

Still smirking, "You'd better call me King Bowser."

"Alright then King Bowser, I have a question to ask and you're going to answer me. Where are you taking me? You owe me that much."

"Are you simple or slow princess?" his grin seemed to grow as my eye twitched; jerk, "We're going to my castle."

"Castle! Castle!? W-Why? Why take me?" I frowned, "Don't you always kidnap Peach anyways?"

The slippery, smug expression dropped from his mug for a change. He looked contemplative, "Maybe I want to try something new, carrot top."

"That's strike one Bowser," I glowered; no one makes fun of my hair color and gets away with it.

Again he laughed.

I glared.

This was starting to become a cycle I see.

"Anymore of these 'questions'?" He grinned, shooting a look my way.

"Anymore of these questions!?" I mocked him, snarling; I couldn't think of anything good to say back.

He laughed again; glad I was such a good comedy act for him! There was nothing else to do; I wasn't going to talk to a kidnapping maniac so I stared at the scenery. The beautiful green landscape of the Mushroom kingdom slowly faded into the dark, dull colors of the Darklandian territories.

It was haunting how even the sky gradually morphed from a crystal blue to a shade of red, the color of fresh blood. The kingdom was nothing but dark landscape, volcanic soot and pools of bubbling red lava. The Sarasaland kingdom may not have been pretty and green like the Mushroom kingdom but it was far brighter and prettier than this place.

It felt like a tangible, cold cloud of depression descended upon me; the area was nothing but a void of dark, inky colors muddled into jagged, rocky terrain and dead valleys. I gazed past the sun, the giant star bleeding a rich red against the darkening horizon. Just peaking at the edge of the horizon was a grandiose, dark tower. I gasped in awe; it was the legendary Bowser's castle.

I had never been here before and all the stories Peach told me did it no justice. From a distance the keep was a jagged, dark silhouette against the bloody horizon. The closer we drew, the more daunting the castle became. It was made of slabs of dark stone and even from here I could see the gigantic draw bridge over the bubbling lava moat.

The castle's great spires and turrets pierced the blood-red sky and there was no missing the hideous, stone face of Bowser's castle. The large, stone koopa head looked absolutely hellish: its maw opened in a furious roar, eyes slanted with dangerous horns and sleek fangs.

And here I was stuck in the same vehicle that awful image was modeled after. Slowly, as to not attract his attention, I looked up at the evil king. Under the lava's red light he looked demonic. I didn't think it was even possible for him to look even more imposing.

His face held a twisted scowl and in the red wash of bubbling inferno it was as if his red irises disappeared completely. Now he looked even more like a monster. I don't think I could defend myself from this freak if he tried anything.

"Almost home," he turned his head and grinned darkly.

I backed away; I didn't want to be anywhere near that monster. His smile diminished at my evasive action. For a moment his gleeful expression morphed into irritation and he quickly snapped forward, steering the car. The rest of the way there he said nothing else, silently stewing.

We landed in a courtyard of his castle, equipped with a special landing pad for his clown car. I continued to look around the place, strangely fascinated by a culture that wasn't my own.

For a courtyard owned by a maniacal creep, this was a rather nice enclosure. If one ignored the grotesque statues of Bowser encompassing the yard, then this piazza could actually be pretty. It was far greener than I thought and there were even a beautiful array of blooming red and pink flowers around; it looked like a garden.

"Welcome back, Lord Bowser," a chorus of voices rang out.

Bowser grumbled something like a, "Yeah, whatever."

I gasped as a muscled arm wrapped around my waist and hoisted me out of the clown car. He chucked me effortlessly over his shoulder—without hitting his spines—and began to stroll towards his castle in an easy gait. With a growl I began to throw my fists into whatever part of his body I could hit.

"H-Hey stop! You kidnapping bastard! I can walk on my own two legs! You let go of me now!"

A throaty chuckle rumbled through his shell, "You know, for a straight-laced princess you have a pretty dirty mouth, lady."

"Oh?" I glared at the back of his head, "And I'm so sure the King of all Koopas has perfectly clean language!"

"Hn."

Yet again it was annoying to see Bowser wasn't even phased by my attacks. In fact I think he was purposefully ignoring them, "Hmm. And if I do let you go, you're not gonna try to make a break for it?"

I froze. Was King Bowser really going to just let me go? Even in the face of a bold lie!? Just to put my theory to work, I fixed my face into the most innocent expression. With a practiced superficiality I tried to sound convincingly sweet, "No. I will not run away."

"Hmm." He sharpened his stare, glaring hard at my face and for a moment I trembled, curling away from such a hostile visage.

It wasn't too soon when he finally released a soft chuff and decided he believed my tale. I was unbolstered from his arms and set onto my two feet. The moment he turned his back, I would run like hell. I make be slow in heels, well in one stiletto anyways but I know I can still outrun him.

The stars must have aligned perfectly because he turned his back to me and began to tromp away "Follow—"

"Haha! Suuuuuuuucker!"

I tore past and ran straight into the castle. I heard a disgruntled growl as I raced into the dingy fortress. Now I was aware running straight into Bowser's castle is like going from the pan and into the fire, but seriously what else could I do?!

He probably had thousands of drone soldiers within his palace but I honestly thought that it was better to be in the hands of his lackeys than before their tyrannical king any day.

Just as I was heading up a flight of stairs, I heard the clucking of approaching koopas and darted around a corner. I stayed dead silent as the three koopa troopas waddled past. I held my breath until I was sure they disappeared completely from sight.

I stuck my head from my scanty hideaway and peered in both directions; okay so now where to go? Maybe if I hide in one of the rooms I could elude him long enough and make a break for it? I chuckled dubiously at my lame plan for escape; and then what? Attempt to highjack his flying copter clown thingamabob? Just as I took another step, the floor opened below me and I fell into a hole.

I was falling, racing down a chute in a pitch-black tunnel. I couldn't see a damn thing and even if this chute wasn't completely dark, my billowing dress fluttered obstructively into my vision. The ride ended abruptly and spat me out roughly on my rear. I groaned, rubbing my sore tush. Why, I was inside of a cage.

Aw crap.

I rose to my feet, straightening out my dress and petticoats as I tried to gain my bearings. Still reeling from the ride, I grabbed the bars to center my gravity. So here I am trapped in a dark cellar belonging to King Bowser. It was obvious what I had to do.

I have to get the heck out of here before the king realized his cells were holding a Sarasalandian princess! I shuddered at the thought of being found and completely at the mercy of the maniacal tyrant king.

The stunt I pulled had to really piss him off.

Uttering curses under my breath, I tugged and pulled at the cage's bars but nothing happened; no budging or breaking. I took a few steps back and glared at these said evil bars. How could I get out of here...?

I remember reading a Glitzville interview with Rawk Hawk. He stated the strongest part of a woman's body are her legs. Maybe I can kick this place down. Gathering my strength, I took a calming inhalation and with a mighty roar I kicked the bars with all my might…

"For Sarasaland!" I yelled.

…And nearly broke my foot in the process. I hopped around on one foot cursing in Sarasalandian, as a sudden flare of lights sparkled to life.

No it wasn't electricity that lit the dank dungeon but firelight. Several torches had been lit simultaneously and millions of tiny critters skittered, disappearing into crevices just as fast as the light had appeared.

I paled wondering just what other little vermin were living in this dank chamber. With the limited light and the dank atmosphere who knows what kind of vermin could be living down here…

Did King Bowser keep dead prisoners here? Were the dead enemies of the King Koopa moldering down here, rotting away to nothing, or were rats feasting on their carcasses?

Holy Stars were the rats going to eat me?! Were the giant, fat rats going to eat me away too until I was nothing but a skeleton in a yellow princess dress?! Just as I felt my mind being overrun with anxiety and dread, I began to claw at the cage desperately. I pulled and kicked, but the bars were not moving.

There could be rats down here! Big, fat mutant rats that have been feasting on the brains of prisoners and what if they suddenly developed a taste for princess!?

I have to get out of here!

I sent one last resolute kick at the bar and halted, realizing there was a dark humanoid silhouette. Stars, there is a person standing maybe less than ten feet away from me? I gulped, slowing drinking in the unknown visage; tall, monstrously so and he—I think it's a guy—was huge. I slowly lifted my leg in preparation for kicking the heck out of this creep.

Just as I planned to shove my leg—heel more specifically—into the silhouette's kneecap, the person breathed a roll of orange fire onto a torch and the room was bright.

The mystery was solved as the koopa king handed the torch over to a minion. Staring at me was Bowser and two magikoopa. The king grinned triumphantly, arms crossed and a feral sneer present.

To preserve whatever kind of dignity I had left in front of him, I slowly placed my foot down and straightened out my dress. With visibility present, I glanced around the dank room. There were no skeletons or molding bodies or fat-giant rats eating anyone. Hmm, perhaps I had let my imagination get the best of me a bit?

Only a little bit.

This room was nothing but a really damp dungeon and I was safe. Well, as safe as I could be with King Bowser glaring down at me.

"Well, well, well," with each passing second Bowser's sneer became more pronounced, "Look what we've got here Kammy, Kamek."

Both the magikoopas wore wizard cloaks and looked nearly identical in my opinion. However Kammy's cloak was made of satin and held a deep shade of violet whereas Kamek's cloak and wizard hat was a deep indigo.

Also not to mention Kamek was clearly male and Kammy was female; her feminine powder-white hair and dangling earrings hinted at her gender.

He turned to this 'Kammy,' and sighed, "See this is why King Bowser can't be nice. I let her go for one second and then what does the warrior princess do? She turns to run off…Peach listened to whatever I said."

"Well your majesty," Kammy fixed her glasses, "Not every human girl is alike. Granted Princess Daisy and Princess Peach share the same blood, yet they are far different in both appearances and personality. Princess Peach is more docile whereas Princess Daisy is…uh…unkempt."

" 'Unkempt'!" I hissed, insulted this woman would even pass a flash judgment on me, "You take that back you flying snail!"

I was startled when Bowser and the other magikoopa bust out into laughter, pointing at Kammy, "Did you hear that! She called you a snail!"

Kammy kept a straight face although it was obvious she was miffed, "…Yes your evilness I heard her just fine."

She suddenly spun around and snapped at the other Magikoopa, "And just what are you laughing about you old crone?! I'm talking to you Kamek!"

Although a smirk was present upon his face, 'Kamek' I guess, chuckled to himself, "Oh nothing."

Chuckling, Bowser turned to look at me, "So Daisy—"

"Princess Daisy," I crossed my arms mirroring his stance, "You see this crown on my head? It's there for a reason."

"Yeah, so Daisy," he smirked at my miffed expression, "So you're probably wondering why I brought you here."

I laughed derisively, "Yeah that would be actually really nice to know."

"Well, a couple of my counselors suggested the Darklands should start trying to improve relations with the other kingdoms. You know, to build potential alliances and crap like that."

Bowser stomped over until he was a breadth away from me. I stared up at him in a mixture of both awe and revolt. He was a beast, nearly the devil himself with his long pearl horns and a cruel visage. He was imposing and at least three feet taller. His red eyes burned wildly like inferno. I glanced at his biceps and inaudibly swallowed a gulp.

His arms were friggin' ridiculous! He was ripped. He arched an eyebrow and followed my line of vision, to his huge arms. He grinned and raised a bicep and flexed, "Like what you see Princess?"

I gaped at him; well I didn't expect that. This time he flexed both arms and I sat back stunned; like seriously what in the world is he doing?! Kamek and Kammy exchanged looks as they stared at their king. Kammy cleared her throat, "Sire? Before you get…distracted, could you perhaps tell the Princess why she is here?"

Bowser paused, halting in the middle of a flex and grinned at Kammy, "I was only giving her a taste of eye candy."

Yet again I stared at him incredulously; did he really just refer to himself as eye candy?! He chuckled to himself and crossed his arms yet again. Call me crazy, but I think this time he was still flexing even with his arms crossed, "I brought you here Princess because I wanted us to get to know each other and become…friends."

He looked over at Kammy, "…Did I say that word correctly? Friends?"

"Yes your nastiness, you said it superbly," Kammy gleamed with pride; maybe she taught him that word? Who knows?

While his advisers were beaming, praising him over a menial task like pronouncing such a simple word well, I was pondering. So King Bowser kidnapped me all because he wanted to be my friend!?

Was he crazy or just severely disillusioned!?

"Wait, let me get this straight," I glared at him incredulously, "You want to be friends, so you come and kidnap me, and then you stick me in a cage?!"

I heard someone clear their throat and I could have sworn that Kamek guy had softly uttered, "She has a good point your cruelty." But Kammy frowned and all but elbowed the Holy Stars out of him.

"Well technically if you hadn't been snooping around my castle," he grinned lopsidedly, eyes narrowing wickedly, "then you wouldn't be in here. You yourself triggered that trap door."

"Okay, I'll admit to that one," I said softly, "But still! You kidnap me! To be my friend!?"

"Think about it," Bowser's smirk was ever present on his face, "If I came knocking on the door of Sarasaland's castle would your guards really let me in?"

Somehow in his twisted logic, Bowser did have a point. If we ever saw an eight-foot tall koopa approaching our gates, all hell would break loose. It would probably lead to the next war!

"Then follow policy like everyone else and send delegates and envoys to other kingdoms so we can see you're not as evil as we think you are."

"An envoy huh," he rubbed his chin in thought, eyebrow arched slightly, "Well then consider it done, princess."

I blinked in disbelief; did I really just change the king of koopas' mind like that?! It seemed too simple really. In fact he was smiling at me as if he knew something that I didn't.

Hmm.

"You see Princess, I've considered your proposal and I think it's a brilliant idea," he was still grinning, eyes twinkling, "I will accept your proposal."

"Well that's great King Bowser, now we ca—"

"You're going to be a representative from Sarasaland," his smile transformed into something downright malicious, "You're going to convince me to become an ally for your kingdom."

I choked, "What!"

He chuckled darkly, eyes narrowed, "You must convince me Sarasaland is in need of my kingdom's aid. If you succeed and prove your kingdom to be a valuable asset, then you'll have the Darklands as a full time ally."

"Think of it princess," Kammy hovered beside me, "Sarasaland could potentially be backed by the strongest military a kingdom has."

"Also," Kamek appeared on my other side, "Our economy is constantly booming. We'd be willing to help our new allies with commerce, trade, starting new business and exchanging knowledge. We can help increase an ally's economy as well. Think about the benefits princess."

Bowser laughed, "Better yet, think about the detriments! If you show me that Sarasaland is a sucky ally, then I'll come over there and rip your kingdom apart!"

He moved his face closer to mine and grinned demonically, "I'll clear my agenda and I will destroy your kingdom…personally."

I grimaced; the words of the ultimatum still bouncing around my head. I had to be a delegate for Sarasaland and convince King Bowser to become an ally of ours? This was not what I had in mind when I mentioned sending a delegate. If I had known he meant for me to do the job, then I wouldn't have said anything.

I chewed my lip in thought; an unprincessly action yes but it helped me organize my thoughts. If I could in fact convince Bowser that his kingdom would benefit from an alliance with Sarasaland then my kingdom would have an extremely powerful ally. It could help so much!

A stronger economy could mean new irrigation systems to fight against droughts and famines, or better supplies for battling against sand storms. But if I fail, then I could start a war with the King of all Koopas.

For a terrifying moment I could picture Bowser, and his menacing army storming through my kingdom. Fires would rage with the hellish fury of the Darklandians, devouring buildings and homes as the king left nothing but death, blood and destruction in his wake. I shivered; I just couldn't let that happen. And everyone who had half a brain knew that going to war against the Darklands was as good as signing your own death warrant with your blood as the ink.

As a ten-year old girl, I could remember learning about the koopa war of 1315 in a history lesson, the most recent war in history where the Darklands were involved in a battle against the now ancient Silverlands civilization.

The ruler of the Silverlands had all but infuriated the koopa king of the era, and with the building tensions, war broke out between the kingdoms. That war had been a completely one-sided, bloody mortal combat. The soldiers of the Darklands had all but easily mauled the Silverlands defenses apart and destroyed the said kingdom swiftly and ruthlessly.

That war was recorded as the most violent, vicious battles that had been fought in our history. The complete civilization was eradicated and the koopa had left a long trail of nothing but blood, fire, death and destruction in their wake.

Ever since that war's place in history, all monarchs more than feared the Darklands. While many centuries had gone by since that bloodfest, that moment in history was more than freshly ingrained in the back of every ruler's mind.

"So, will you act as an envoy princess?" Bowser arched an eyebrow, his fire-breathing grin present.

"Well duh!" I hissed.

His smile began to fade and I coughed, "I-I mean of course King Bowser."

He grinned, "Good!"

I jumped back as he reached forward and snapped off a section of the cage effortlessly. I gasped, stunned at how strong he was. He looked at me and grinned, "What, didn't think I was comin' for ya did you?"

"No! I'm not scared of you," I hissed.

Just as I went to walk past him, he stepped in the middle of the broken cage. He glared down at me but still managed to smile, "Is that so?"

He slowly lowered his head until his face was inches away from mine. I gulped, trying not to shiver too badly in front of him. If he wanted to hurt me, then he'd really have no problems doing so.

I narrowed my eyes and glared right back at him. He chuckled, red eyes blazing, "Hmm, brave little cookie eh? You look someone in the eye even when you're quaking in your boots."

"I-I," I swallowed, "I'm not afraid of you!"

"Heh," He stepped away and snorted smoke through his nostrils, "You don't need to fear me princess, fear stinks on you. It's saturating your natural scent."

I blinked, "You can smell fear?"

He chuckled, "I can even taste it if it's potent enough. Now stop being afraid of me. Fear really smells terrible on you. It's nearly nauseating really."

He looked at me a bit closer and smirked, "On another note, you look awful princess. Let's get you cleaned up a bit."

Just as he turned to leave I frowned. I ran a harried hand through my hair and to my horror felt how frizzed and tangled it was. For the King of Koopas to comment on my appearance, I must have looked terrible. My dress was filthy and torn, I was missing one of my shoes, my right glove was ripped and dirty.

I huffed, knowing there was nothing I could do to fix my appalling appearance. I stepped out of the cage and followed him. While I glared at him, mainly for the nerve of his commentary on my appearance, I stared at the back of his shell and shivered. All those spikes and spines, how in the world has he not accidentally taken an eye out?

I looked at his massive clawed hands, the spiked-studded arm and wrist bracers and shuddered. What would happen if I failed as an envoy? Would he shred me to pieces with those razor sharp claws? Bowser suddenly clenched his fists together, hard enough that his knuckles popped audibly.

His sudden halt forced me to stop, least I run into those serious looking spines on his shell. I looked up at the back of his head curiously; his entire demeanor seemed to have changed. Was he angry?

"I thought I told you to stop with the fear thing," he growled, I swore that his red mane stuck up a bit more than usual, "I said I wouldn't hurt you."

For a moment there was a silent standoff between us. He glared down as me, with a curious roll of smoke trailing from his left nostril and I stared back at him wordlessly, confused about why he was angry.

With a snort of smoke, he turned and began to continue stomping twice as hard as before. I blinked, still in a stupor over his sudden mood change. For the first time he seemed genuinely upset and Bowser being angry meant he was one step closer to launching a full-out war upon Sarasaland.

Crap.

With the safety of my kingdom at stake, I decided I'd have to put my ego aside and appeal to Bowser's maniacal ego. I gulped and picked up my tattered dress and ran until I was walking by his side. When I settled beside him he cut a rather sharp sideways look my way. He still looked relatively miffed so I decided to clear that up as soon as possible.

"Look, m-maybe I'm still kind of shaky from being kidnapped by—"

By a big, scary, evil-looking koopa who just so happens to be a dictator. This said koopa can also breathe fire, and smash his way through concrete as easily as one would skip through a grassy meadow.

"By what?" he said gruffly, his humor still gone.

"I-I meant that maybe if I got to know you a bit better, then I wouldn't be scared," my voice barely came out louder than a whisper

He halted for a second time and I stopped, glancing up at him. Bowser looked at me, his face held in astonishment and I watched as his features settled into a large grin, "A chance to get to know me better hmm? Why princess I think that's quite a good idea."

I beamed weakly, both glad and exasperated; glad in the sense I had appeased his ego and exasperated at the fact of having to spend more time with this selfish monster.

"Tonight you and I will have a nice dinner," as he grinned I couldn't help but notice his massive fangs, "and there we can chat, get to learn more about each other and our kingdoms…and do other boring crap that goes on at dinner."

I actually laughed at his frankness and his grin stretched, "That sounds good King Bowser."

"Great!" he genuinely looked pleased and I tried to ignore how his tail actually wagged, thumping against the floor loudly.

I thought it was cute, but I wasn't going to tell him that and bruise his male ego. Wait, do koopas actually have male egos or is that just reserved for human males?

"Well before dinner we'll have to have you freshen up a bit Princess."

I blushed, crossing my arms indignantly, "…Do I really look that bad?"

One edge of his mouth curved upward in a sly smirk, "Heh, I have someone who would be more than willing to help you prepare for tonight's events," with two snaps of his fingers, Kammy reappeared in a splatter of primary-colored shapes.

I jumped back in shock, "Whoooa!"

Both Bowser and Kammy looked at me skeptically. I blushed, feeling like an idiot, "W-what? I've never seen magic before…"

King Bowser shook his head and chuckled, "Poor kingdoms, always amazed by the most basic stuff. Anyways, Kammy could you see to it that the fashionista will take care of the princess? We will have a dinner together to cement our new…friendship."

"Well met your majesty! You said the word perfectly! I have in fact already sent the fashionista to Miss Daisy's guestroom."

I frowned, "Guestroom? Excuse me, but how long am I staying here?"

I spun around to find the head koopa, and he was already heading down another hall into who knows where.

"H-Hey! King Bowser!"

He spun to face me, looking far too amused, "Yes princess?"

"How long are you planning on keeping me here? I've got a life you know!"

Bowser grinned wickedly, "Long enough to convince me I shouldn't blow your kingdom to hell."

"…So where's my room?"

Bowser laughed as Kammy grinned, "Please follow me your highness. His Lordship will leave us now, he has many imperative matters to oversee."

Kammy led me to a hall with a shimmering silvery door. With a swipe of her wand the door opened gingerly and I stepped in to see a breath-taking suite. The stone chamber was decorated and painted a soft cream with overly feminine yellow lace drapes and the large bed was dressed in a lacy yellow quilt.

The room smelled strongly floral and was filled with what looked like an indoor garden bursting with a pasture of tall daisies. I looked around at the lavish settings and was honestly amazed; there was a large jacuzzi bath tub with gorgeous golden nozzles and black marble furnishings. Even the stone tiles of the room where inscribed with a delicate daisy insignia.

This room was nearly twice as large as my own at the Sarasaland palace and probably twice as glamorous. Granted my room at home was huge, but this room was amazing! It was like a miniature ballroom! I spun to face Kammy who was pretending that she wasn't watching my reaction.

Hmm everything in this room was yellow, cream, or orange; would I be wrong in guessing Bowser had planned this kidnapping thing far in advance? It's too much of a coincidence a room is prepared in my 'favorite colors'. Sarasaland protocol makes the royals dress in golds and oranges to represent the desert.

"Is the room up to your standards princess?" She asked coolly.

"Yes it's rather nice actually." I eyed the indoor garden with the bright and fragrant flowers. I reached out and touched the petals.

"Oh," she sounded disappointed.

"What's wrong…?"

"Well we here in the Darklands don't do 'nice.' 'Nice' would be the equivalent of your 'okay,' and we don't do 'okay' here," she sniffed indignantly.

"Oh, then it's ah…superb?" I said hesitantly.

"That's a bit better I suppose. We hope you will enjoy your stay here, Princess Daisy. Your facilities include a jet-hot tub, an indoor garden and sunroof, and your own personal tanning booth."

I laughed, "Why do I need a tan? Look at me, I'm a desert princess."

"Well…Erm yes, but we thought young ladies your age liked to tan and—Ahem. Well the fashionista should be coming in in any second now and…"

The doors to my room snapped open and in popped a girl koopa? She wore a large pink bow, red lipstick and matching cotton-candy pink heels. She switched her hips as she walked in with a haughty expression on her pretty face. She looked around the room and blinked when her vision fell upon me.

"Kammy," she strolled towards me, "Is this my latest project?"

"Project?" I arched an eyebrow.

"Yes your gracefulness," Kammy grinned, speaking to the girl koopa instead of me, "You have several hours to make her presentable before dinner."

"My goodness, you're like such a mess," she crooned, frowning a bit and even scrunching up her nose in disdain.

"Hey, you try to look good getting kidnapped," I hissed defensively; did I really look that bad?

"Hmm," the girl koopa walked around me in a circle, eyes narrowed as she studied me, "But despite the apparent mess you are, you've got a pretty decent face, nice and heart-shaped. A nice body…from what I can see in that abomination dress."

She stopped when she was in front of me and grinned impishly; somehow it was through her mischievous expression that I saw Bowser's features in her pretty face, "I'm Wendy Koopa, crown princess of the Darklands by the way and fashionista extradonaire!"

"Yeah? Well I'm Princess Daisy of the Sarasaland kingdom. Your dad is trying to decide whether or not he wants to destroy my kingdom," I said to her flatly.

I expected a bit of outrage or indignation at hearing her father's evil plans for my kingdom, but if anything she looked amused.

What was with these koopas?

Wendy chuckled, "Oh nonsense, daddy's just being silly. He's only kidnapped two princesses ever and he only kidnaps princesses when he's—"

Kammy cleared her throat suddenly and conveniently in my opinion. Wendy grinned as she purposely sidetracked, "-I've been studying fashion at Madame Fifi's all girls academy and let me tell you Daisy, oh may I call you Dai? It would be so magnifique!"

"Sure, only if I can call you Wendy," I shrugged; titles always made me cringe. Even being called 'princess' made me think that everyone saw me as a title instead of a person.

"Deal! Soooo," she scooted closer to me; wow these koopas really didn't know the definition of 'personal space', "Your skin is a rich tan, a refreshing change from Peach's pasty pop complexion."

"With her we can only really do pinks and silvers, nothing like what we can do with yours. So I'm thinking gold or a cool blue would be better suited for your complexion than that blah yellow. My it like really washes you out."

"Uh…okay." I scratched my head.

Wendy scrunched up her nose, "Don't do that. Like princesses do not scratch their heads. It's so manly. So unwomanly."

I stopped, "But my head itches. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and—"

"Well, it's nice to finally have a girlfriend to talk to!" she squealed happily, "Besides Kammy, there's nothing but boys here."

I laughed, "How many brothers do you have?"

She looked annoyed, "Count it, seven! And all of them are smelly, and ugly!"

"Wow, you must be tough to survive all of them!" I've always wanted another sibling, preferably a little brother. Someone who I could be rough with and play sports with together.

"Koopas are always tough," she harrumphed, "but it's so hard being beautiful with seven brothers around who constantly are idiots!"

I laughed; so this girly girl had seven brothers huh? That meant that as the only girl in the family she had to be tough to get her voice heard. Maybe there was more to her than the superficial, vain little koopa girl I saw before me. She probably saw me as a Peach replacement and I saw her as a brat; it worked.

"So we don't have much time to waste Dai. We've got to make you stunning before dinner time and that's only fourteen hours away!"

"Um," I raised an eyebrow, "That's plenty of time..."

"NONSENSE!" then that sweet smile of hers was back on her face, "Now let's go. Oh and Kammy? Could we take the carriage into town? The truly elegant one with the pearl finish?"

Kammy inclined her head at the directive, "Oh course your loveliness."

Just as I went to leave, I saw Wendy narrow her eyes at me.

"Wait!" Wendy stepped in front of me, "you don't like honestly think I'm going to let you go out in public looking like that!"

Chuckling I shrugged noncommittally and Wendy hissed at my nonchalance, "Tomboy of the century or not you're going to the mall looking like a wonder. I'm going to have this dress washed and pressed and I'll personally see to it that I will glam it up a bit. Maybe move the hemline to knee-length and off the princess sleeves oh and I'll be sure to get rid of those ghastly panniers. Stars know that they were wretched when they came out a century ago and they're still hideous on gowns today."

I watched as Wendy mumbled to herself, eyes glazed as she murmured about the alterations she was going to make to my gown. While she was continuing to droll on about whether or not to add a petticoat, I decided to interrupt her trance.

"Well then while you're still correcting my 'awful' appearance, I should tell you that as of right now I only have one heel."

Wendy's blue eyes went from being opaque to lucid like the waters of Delfino island within seconds. She frowned, "And like how pray tell did you manage to lose a shoe?"

"This time I couldn't hide my laughter at her disgruntlement, "I was trying to kick your dad and my shoe came off!"

"Merciful Stars in Star Haven you're such a boy," she sighed, "Well, you'll be my biggest success when I change you into a woman worthy of your floral name. But first things first. Out of the dress princess and into that robe. I've got work to do."

Alice: Please Read and Review! Much love everyone!